Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

Participation of Bangladesh cricketers in the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 is now uncertain, with the final decision hinging on government approval amid ongoing regional tensions. A total of six Bangladesh players — Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Rishad Hossain — were initially granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) by the Bangladesh Cricket Board after being picked in the league’s first-ever auction. However, the evolving situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan has prompted the board to reconsider their participation, making government clearance mandatory. BCB cricket operations chairman Nazmul Abedin confirmed that the board will not take a final call without consulting the authorities. “Of course, we will seek permission from the government before sending our cricketers for the PSL. Under normal circumstances, these things are not required. We provide clearance; they go, play, and return. But since the situation is not normal and there is a risk element concerning the players, obviously we will discuss it with the government,” Abedin was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz on Thursday. “We will seek to know from the government whether it will be safe to travel or not, and based on that government decision, we will have to take the ultimate call on whether the players will go or not. Because it is not actually possible for us to understand the situation there. It is possible for the government to know. The government will know, and if the government tells us that it is safe to go and the players can travel, then the players will go. But, in principle, we have decided that we will give the NOC, and they will go to play. But it depends on the situation at that time,” he added. As things stand, if the players are cleared to participate in the PSL, they are likely to miss Bangladesh’s preparatory camps ahead of the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand national cricket team, who are scheduled to tour Bangladesh next month for three ODIs and three T20Is. The BCB has already issued partial NOCs to manage player availability across both commitments. Mustafizur Rahman, who has been signed by Lahore Qalandars, has been granted clearance from March 26 to April 12 and again from April 24 to May 3. He will take part in the ODI series against New Zealand but will miss the T20I leg. Meanwhile, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana and Rishad Hossain have received NOCs valid until April 12, allowing them to feature in both formats of the home series. Parvez Hossain Emon, on the other hand, has been cleared until April 21 and is expected to be available for the T20I matches. With safety concerns now at the forefront, the final decision on Bangladesh players’ PSL participation will ultimately rest with the government, leaving their involvement in the tournament hanging in the balance.

Strait of Hormuz (AP image)

Iran has introduced a ‘safe shipping corridor’ that allows selected vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz via a route inside its territorial waters, as tensions in the region continue to disrupt global maritime traffic.The corridor is being offered only to ships that receive prior approval from Iranian authorities, making it a controlled and selective alternative rather than a fully open route through one of the world’s busiest oil chokepoints.

What is the current process for ships to pass through ‘Strait of Hormuz’?

Under the current arrangement, ships must undergo a vetting process before entering the corridor. Several countries, including India, Pakistan, Iraq, Malaysia and China are in discussions with Tehran to coordinate safe passage for their vessels.The system is being managed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is developing a registration mechanism for ships seeking clearance. Shipping operators are required to share detailed information including vessel ownership, cargo and destination in advance through intermediaries.

.

While the process is currently being handled on a case-by-case basis, reports suggest that a more formal and structured approval system may be introduced in the coming days, according to maritime news agency Lloyd’s List. At least nine ships have already used the corridor, travelling close to Iran’s Larak Island where the IRGC Navy and port authorities carry out visual inspections.Among them, three India-flagged gas tankers Shivalik, Nanda Devi and Jag Laadki have successfully transited the strait and arrived in India after taking this route. Shipping data indicates that these vessels avoided the usual shorter passage through Omani waters and instead moved through Iranian territorial waters under supervision.

.

Other vessels, including bulk carriers and tankers, have also reportedly followed similar routes.

Costs, risks and global concerns remain

According to a report by Lloyd’s List, at least one tanker operator is believed to have paid around $2 million to secure safe passage. In most cases, approvals have been granted through diplomatic coordination.Despite being described as “safe”, experts have raised concerns over the reliability of the corridor. They warn that clearance from Iranian authorities does not guarantee protection, as different units within the IRGC may still delay or even seize vessels, creating uncertainty for shipping companies.The development has also raised geopolitical concerns. While the United States is currently allowing limited transits to avoid disruptions in global energy supply, analysts believe it may not support such an arrangement in the long term. Any attempt by Iran to assert greater control over the strait could increase tensions and trigger responses.For many global shipping firms, especially those linked to Western countries, the risks remain high. However, operators with trade ties to Iran or fewer geopolitical constraints may continue to explore this option.Meanwhile, overall traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains low. Most shipowners are avoiding the route due to security concerns, with recent data showing only a small number of transits.Iran has denied allegations that it is blocking the strait and has maintained that it supports free and safe navigation. It has attributed the current disruption to rising regional tensions and external military actions.

Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft along with nine other tech and retail giants have now come together to launch the Tech Industry Accord to Combat Scams. This initiative from the companies is designed to tackle the increasing problem of online fraud. Announced this week, the Accord is one of the largest industry collaborations till date which deals with scams that target consumers via fake ads, phishing and fraudulent listings.As part of the Accord the companies have pledged to share best practices, improve scam detection and collaborate more closely with law enforcement and consumer protection agencies. The initiative also stressed on information-sharing across platforms, so that fraudulent activity detected on one service can be flagged across others.According to the accord document, the goal is to create a “safer digital ecosystem” by reducing the prevalence of scams that erode consumer trust and cause billions in losses annually.“This Accord addresses the growing problem of online scams and fraud, specifically deceptive schemes targeting individuals or organizations with the intent of taking money and/or personal information, which impacts billions of users across the globe,” reads the document.The Accord also seeks to set expectations for how signatories will work across online services to counter scammers, in line with their own policies and practices as relevant to the commitments in the Accord.

Why the companies signed the Accord now

Online scams are on a rise worldwide and are exploiting the growth of e-commerce and digital services. The fraudsters are now using AI-generated content and other sophisticated social engineering tactics to exploit the users. By coming together these big companies now hope to stay ahead of fraudsters and also assure the customers all the platforms are now taking coordinated action.The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of tech platforms’ responsibility in protecting users. Regulators in the U.S., U.K., and EU have been pressing companies to strengthen safeguards against fraud. Similar alliances have emerged in financial services, but this marks a significant expansion into the broader tech and retail sectors.

Gold price prediction today (AI image)

Gold price prediction today: Gold prices are range-bound and highly volatile in the current scenario, says Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst – Commodity and Currency, LKP Securities.Gold futures on MCX are trading near ₹1,46,900 after witnessing a sharp decline followed by a recovery bounce. The price action indicates consolidation after a strong directional move, with markets now reacting to global cues. Ongoing geopolitical tensions and uncertainty around the U.S. Fed’s interest rate trajectory are keeping bullion highly sensitive, leading to sharp two-sided moves.Technical SetupPrices are hovering near the short-term EMA cluster, indicating indecision after the recent fall. The EMAs are flattening, suggesting consolidation and lack of a clear directional trend in the immediate term.Bands are wide, reflecting elevated volatility. Price is oscillating between the mid and lower band, indicating that sharp intraday swings may continue within a defined range.RSI is near 50, reflecting neutral momentum. This supports the view of a range-bound market with no strong directional conviction.MACD:MACD is flattening after a negative phase, indicating that bearish momentum has slowed while no strong bullish reversal is confirmed yet.Key Intraday Levels:Resistance Zones: • ₹1,47,500 – ₹1,47,800 (Immediate resistance) • ₹1,49,000 – ₹1,49,500 (Strong supply zone)Support Zones: • ₹1,46,000 – ₹1,45,800 (Immediate support) • ₹1,44,800 – ₹1,44,500 (Key demand zone)Volatility & Market View:Gold is expected to remain highly volatile amid: • Escalating geopolitical tensions driving safe-haven flows • Uncertainty over Fed rate cuts and inflation trajectory • Dollar index and bond yield fluctuationsIntraday movement is likely to remain wide and erratic, with potential spikes on news flow. The broader range for the session is seen between ₹1,45,000 – ₹1,49,000, with sudden breakouts possible on macro triggers.Gold is currently in a consolidation phase within a high-volatility environment, with prices reacting sharply to global developments. Traders should closely monitor key support and resistance levels, as any breakout beyond the defined range could trigger a directional move.Bias: Volatile & Range-BoundRange: ₹1,45,000 – ₹1,49,000(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)

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has issued summons to the makers of the songs ‘Tateeree’, ‘Sarke Chunar’ after reports alleging “obscenity and vulgarity” appeared in the media. The official X handle of NCW on Thursday morning said that the commission has observed “that the content prima facie appears to be objectionable and violative of provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.”For ‘Tateeree’, the summons have been issued to Badshah, who is the singer and lyricist of the song along with director Mahi Sandhu and producer Hiten. As per the tweet, they have been asked to appear on March 25, 2026 at 12:30, along with “relevant documents”. The tweet says that failure to appear “may invite appropriate action as per law.” The Information Technology Act, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, have been mentioned in the tweet.