US President Donald Trump’s call to seven countries to send warships to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open has drawn a negative response from Washington’s allies, putting his plans in jeopardy.

Vital shipping route for global oil trade

While he named China, Britain, France, Japan and South Korea in a social media post on Saturday, urging them to help guard the waterway, the Republican did not identify the seven countries while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday.“I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their own territory,” Trump said.

“We’re talking to countries about policing the straits, because they are the ones — you know, we don’t get oil, very little, 1%. China, for example, gets about 90% of its oil from the Strait of Hormuz. It would be nice to have other countries policing it with us. We’ll help and work with them,” he added.

Crucial for Asian markets

On February 28, the United States and Israel carried out joint strikes in Iran that killed its then-Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, triggering the conflict. In retaliation, Tehran has targeted both Israel and Gulf states hosting US military bases.Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, with its forces continuing attacks on the vital waterway as the war enters its third week.

How Hormuz compares with other waterways

The strait — a narrow passage of water between Iran and Oman — is one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints, with about 20% of global oil supply passing through it, resulting in Trump’s call.Who has said whatJapan: Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday Japan does not currently plan to dispatch naval vessels to escort ships in the Middle East. “We have not made any decisions whatsoever about dispatching escort ships. We are continuing to examine what Japan can do independently and what can be done within the legal framework,” Takaichi told parliament.She is scheduled to meet Trump in Washington on Thursday.Australia: Catherine King, a minister in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government, told state broadcaster ABC that Australia would not send naval ships to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.“We won’t be sending a ship to the Strait of Hormuz. We know how incredibly important that is, but that’s not something we’re contributing to,” King told ABC.South Korea: According to South Korea’s presidential office, any decision would be made after discussions with Washington.“We will communicate closely with the US regarding this matter and decide after a careful review,” it stated on Sunday.Britain: Prime Minister Keir Starmer has discussed the issue with Trump, a Downing Street spokesperson said, adding that Starmer also spoke with his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, and both have agreed to continue talks on Monday.France: While France has not responded publicly, President Emmanuel Macron has previously expressed willingness for the French navy to escort ships, but only if the conflict stabilises. Last week, Macron wrote on social media that he had spoken with his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, and told him that Tehran must ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and reopen it to shipping. China: China — not a US ally — has not publicly responded to remarks by Donald Trump but has previously called for a cessation of hostilities. Beijing is also the largest buyer of Iranian oil.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has confirmed the two venues for the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand. New Zealand, the T20 World Cup finalists, will return to compete in the tour against Bangladesh in April.

New Zealand played some stunning brand of cricket and were the finalists of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 alongside India. They defeated the mighty South African side in the semi-finals as the two openers guided them home with sheer domination. They have been the finalists alongside India in the last two ICC tournaments in 2025 and 2026.

New Zealand are currently hosting South Africa for a five-match T20I series. They started off with a humiliating defeat to a new-look South African side, which did not comprise any of their T20 World Cup stars. New Zealand also played with their alternative side, comprising cricketers who were not part of the World Cup.

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BCB plots to wreck IPL as they confirm venues for NZ tour

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has confirmed Dhaka and Chattogram as the two venues for the upcoming limited-overs contest between the two teams, Bangladesh and New Zealand.

The New Zealand team will first take on the hosts in a three-match ODI series, which starts on the 17th of April and ends on the 23rd of April. The first two games have been scheduled to be held in Dhaka, while the last match will be in Chattogram.

The actions then shift to the shortest format of the game. The first two T20Is will take place in Chattogram on 27 and 29 April. The last of the series will be played in Dhaka on the 2nd of May.

New Zealand tour of Bangladesh to clash with IPL schedule

Bangladesh recently won the home series against Pakistan in the 50-over format. The three-match series was won by a 2-1 margin by the hosts, who are looking forward to bolstering their campaign for the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup.

Tour Schedule:

ODI:

1st ODI, Mirpur, Dhaka, 17 April

2nd ODI, Mirpur, Dhaka, 20 April

3rd ODI, Chattogram, 23 April

T20I:

1st T20I, Chattogram, 27 April

2nd T20I, Chattogram, 29 April

3rd T20I, Mirpur Dhaka, 2 May

The schedule of the series clashes with the IPL 2026, and several players from New Zealand will be part of the IPL during that time. BCB is unaffected as their players have been banned from participating in the IPL this time around, a condition that led to a major fiasco and eventually Bangladesh’s boycott of the T20 World Cup hosted by India.

List of NZ cricketers who will be part of IPL 2026

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner will be part of the Mumbai Indians camp. Lockie Ferguson, the fast bowler, would be playing for the Punjab Kings after being ruled out due to injury midway through the previous season.

Openers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert, alongside Rachin Ravindra, will star in the KKR squad this season. Jacob Duffy will be seen in RCB colours for the first time, while Kyle Jamieson moves to the Rajasthan Royals as Adam Milne‘s replacement.

Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, and Devon Conway will play in the PSL, which is also in the same window. While Glenn Phillips will be seen decking up the Gujarat Titans XI in IPL 2026. Hence, it seems obvious that none of NZ’s frontline players will be part of the tour to Bangladesh.

ALSO READ: EX-KKR coach joins CSK in new role ahead of IPL 2026

GURGAON: A 38-year-old man, who told his wife he was taking their two-year-old daughter downstairs to play in the park, jumped to his death from the 23rd floor of a residential tower in Joyville society in Sector 102 on Monday morning, carrying the toddler in his arms.It was around 7.30am when the father took his daughter to the terrace on the 23rd floor. Police said they received information around 8am and rushed to the spot. Both were taken to a nearby private hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival.The man had been living in the society for the past two years with his wife and their daughter. The family, originally from Nangloi in Delhi, ran a public school in Kirari, which teaches students up to Class V. “The wife was in the kitchen preparing breakfast when her husband told her that he was taking their daughter out to play in the park. Soon after, residents heard a loud commotion near the tower and gathered outside,” a senior officer said.Hearing the noise, the wife stepped out too. “She saw a man and a child lying on the ground, their clothes soaked in blood. She rushed downstairs with other residents, only to discover that the two were her husband and daughter,” the officer added.The man’s brother told police he had been suffering from various health problems since the Covid pandemic. According to sources, he had completely lost vision in one eye, while sight in the other had also deteriorated, leaving him deeply troubled for a long time.The couple got married in 2014. They would often leave their daughter with her grandparents when they travelled to Delhi to run their school. The family has not alleged any foul play and declined to file a complaint. The bodies were handed over to them after an autopsy.Police, however, said they are examining the sequence of events, especially why the father took the child with him before leaping from the terrace. “The circumstances appear suspicious, which is why we have initiated an investigation,” the officer said.

Harshit Rana and Mustafizur Rahman (Agency Photo)

NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders have run into multiple problems ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season. The team first lost Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked the franchise to release him from the squad.KKR had bought Mustafizur for Rs 9.20 crore during the auction after a bidding battle with Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals. The team had hoped the experienced left-arm pacer would strengthen their bowling attack.

However, the move sparked controversy amid political tensions, leading the BCCI to intervene.BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the board had asked KKR to release the player because of the sensitive situation surrounding the signing.

Injury concerns for Harshit Rana

KKR then suffered another setback with young Indian pacer Harshit Rana. His participation in IPL 2026 is uncertain after he appeared on crutches during the BCCI Naman Awards 2026 in Mumbai.Rana was supposed to receive the Best International Debut (Men’s) award but could not walk to the stage due to his injury, prompting Arun Dhumal to step down and present the award to him.The fast bowler later underwent knee surgery on February 9 and is expected to need two to three months for recovery, which raises doubts about whether he will be fit for the upcoming IPL season. His possible absence could weaken KKR’s pace attack, where he has played an important role in recent years.

Possible boost with Matheesha Pathirana

Despite the setbacks, there may be some positive news for KKR. Player agent Amila Kalugalage recently posted a “person fencing” emoji on X, which many believe hints at good news regarding Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana.Matheesha Pathirana suffered an injury while playing for the Sri Lanka national cricket team during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, forcing him to miss the remainder of the tournament and raising doubts about his availability for the Indian Premier League 2026. The pacer had taken two wickets in three matches with an economy of 6.05 before being sidelined. The post, however, confirms that he may’ve fully recovered and is fit to play, and he is expected to play a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ pace attack.KKR have also added Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani as a backup option. Even so, replacing Rana’s role, especially in the crucial death overs, could still be a challenge for the team as they prepare for the new season.

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Indian left-handed batter all set to captain Sunrisers Hyderabad in Pat Cummins‘ absence in IPL 2026. However, not Abhishek Sharma but Ishan Kishan is likely to step up for SRH as their skipper.

There has been some major confusion over the social media buzz surrounding Abhishek Sharma’s appointment as the captain of the Sunrisers Hyderabad team in Pat Cummins’ absence for the first few games of the IPL.

However, Times of India reports have claimed differently, and it seems that Abhishek Sharma’s ill fate in 2026 continues after the T20 World Cup, as a golden opportunity to lead an IPL franchise has been snatched away from him.

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Ishan Kishan’s ‘bull run’ continues with a new role for SRH in 2026

Indian batter Ishan Kishan is having his fortune speak for him in 2026, as he made a shocking return to the Indian XI just at the doorstep of the T20 World Cup and then emerged as their most consistent performer with 317 runs in his maiden T20 World Cup tournament.

After the tremendous success with the Indian team, he has now been handed a promotion by the Sunrisers Hyderabad team in the IPL. The Jharkhand skipper, who led them to an SMAT title in 2025, will now lead SRH in Pat Cummins’ absence.

Cummins’ availability is a major uncertainty this season. The Times of India reports have claimed that SRH management has had a long discussion, and they have decided that Kishan best suits the role of wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of the Australian World Cup-winning captain.

Ishan Kishan’s heroics in the ICC T20 World Cup

Ishan Kishan played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. He scored 317 runs, the second highest for India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with a blistering strike rate of 193.

He ended his campaign with three half-centuries, and including one in the final, he helped India get past tough opposition. He believed that his performance could motivate the young kids who wanted to grow. He also claimed that the World Cup win showed how hard work can lead to success for any cricketer.

Speaking of his future goals after the ICC T20 World Cup, he claimed that his goal is simply to play good cricket, score runs, and keep winning in whichever format and for whichever team he plays.

Kishan’s performance for SRH in IPL 2025

Kishan was bought at a whopping price by the Sunrisers Hyderabad, which showed how much they anticipated from the Indian left-hander. Ishan Kishan also started off his tournament with his maiden IPL hundred and set the stage for a successful run in the tournament.

However, his form dipped after that century, as he could manage not more than 354 runs for them in 14 matches with a strike rate of 152.58. Throughout his IPL career, Ishan Kishan, who has also played for the Mumbai Indians, has amassed 2998 runs in the IPL in 119 appearances.

With 17 half-centuries and a century, Kishan has hit 288 fours and 134 sixes, which reflects on his boundary-hitting ability and clean striking of the white ball. As a wicket-keeper, he has contributed to 59 catches and five stumpings in his IPL career.

ALSO READ: Former England skipper declares Jasprit Bumrah as the best T20 bowler of all time