England cricket team (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has made a bold prediction ahead of the high-stakes semifinal between India national cricket team and England cricket team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.Speaking on a Pakistani television show, Latif backed England to defeat India and progress to the final. The winner of Thursday’s clash will take on New Zealand national cricket team, who booked their place in the title clash after defeating South Africa national cricket team in the other semifinal.

Historically, India hold a slight edge over England in T20 World Cup meetings, leading the head-to-head record 3–2. Their first encounter came in the inaugural 2007 edition when India secured an 18-run win in a memorable contest. That match is best remembered for Yuvraj Singh smashing six sixes in an over.England responded two years later in the 2009 tournament, edging past India after the latter fell three runs short while chasing 154. India regained the upper hand in the 2012 edition with a dominant 90-run victory. A decade later, England produced a commanding performance to defeat India in the 2022 tournament and advance to the final. However, India turned the tables again in the 2024 T20 World Cup under the leadership of Rohit Sharma.Despite India’s favourable record, Latif believes England have the edge this time.“England will win the semifinals,” said Latif.“They are coming from difficult conditions, and 2-3 batters have succeeded. That’s what they need and their middle order is strong,” he said.“England know these conditions very well. Even if just one England player performs, that will be enough for India to lose,” he further added.England’s journey to the semifinals has been marked by resilience. They have had to recover from challenging situations in multiple matches, including tight contests against Nepal and Pakistan where they showed composure under pressure. The team also secured a crucial win over New Zealand in the Super 8 stage and remain unbeaten in the competition.Looking ahead to the semifinal, England captain Harry Brook emphasised the value of winning close matches in a global tournament.“We’ve won tight games, which in World Cups prove to be very important, and we’ve got a lot of confidence going into the deeper parts of the game,” Brook said.“We’ve won games, which we probably shouldn’t have won, and it just feels like we’ve never really been out of any game so far, which holds you in good stead in these world competitions.”Squads:India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Rinku Singh, Washington SundarEngland: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w), Harry Brook(c), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Ben Duckett, Luke Wood, Josh Tongue, Jamie Overton

Navi Mumbai: Following the massive fire breakout at Belapur Hills on Wednesday night, which has occurred repeatedly in the previous years, the CMO has taken cognizance of the incident. Activists appealed to CM Fadnavis, seeking a high-level probe into the recurring breakouts atop the Hills. The CMO alerted the Urban Development Department (UDD) and the forest and environment departments, seeking action on the issue.BN Kumar, director of NatConnect Foundation, said, “The CMO forwarded our complaint to the principal secretary of UDD, the additional chief secretary of forests, and the secretary of the environment and climate change department of the state. We appreciate the prompt action by the CMO.” He continues, “Hopefully, this will be an eye-opener for officials who were turning a blind eye to the Belapur Hills crisis despite repeated complaints.“Environmental groups for years raised alarm over alleged encroachments, illegal construction, and destruction of vegetation on the hills. The loss of green cover, they warn, weakens the natural binding provided by tree roots and increases the risk of landslides during the monsoon. “With large-scale construction and clearing of vegetation already destabilising the slopes, recurring forest fires only worsen the danger,” Krishnan Potti, an environmental activist, said. Activists said the Belapur Hills issue now demands coordinated action from multiple departments to protect the fragile ecosystem, prevent further encroachments, and ensure that recurring fires do not become a pretext for irreversible damage to one of Navi Mumbai’s few remaining natural hill landscapes. Pravin Bodakhe, chief fire officer of Panvel, said, “As there is no access road to reach the spot where the fire breaks out on the Belapur Hills slope, our fire-fighting team managed to douse the fire by reaching the Phanaswadi Adivasi hamlet.“Sanjay Joshi, senior inspector of Kharghar, said, “We installed warning signboards at the entrance near Pandavkada waterfall and the roads leading towards the hills, prohibiting citizens from entering late in the evening. Now, cops will be deployed at the entrance to the hills.”

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/air-forces-sukhoi-su-30-crashes-in-assams-karbi-anglong-search-ops-underway-11174850” on this server.

Reference #18.34a21ab8.1772750294.d31db04

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.34a21ab8.1772750294.d31db04

Foreign secy Vikram Misri at the Iranian embassy on Thursday

NEW DELHI: Foreign secretary Vikram Misri signed the book of condolence – on behalf of the Indian government and people – opened at the Iranian embassy on Thursday, following the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Feb 28, amid criticism over India’s silence.External affairs minister S Jaishankar spoke to his counterpart Abbas Araghchi, and posted about the “telecon” on X, without elaborating. Araghchi had said earlier in the day that the Iranian warship destroyed by a US submarine was a guest of the Indian Navy.The two sides may have their first high-level contact since the war began, on Friday, with Tehran seeking a meeting for visiting deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh. It is learnt that Misri may meet the minister who is in India for the Raisina Dialogue.After signing the condolence book, Misri meets the Iranian ambassadorTehran had been hoping India would express condolences over the killing of Khamenei, if not condemn the US-Israel attacks on Iran. After signing the book, Misri had a short meeting with Iranian ambassador Mohammad Fathali.Russian ambassador Denis Alipov and Pakistani charge d’affaires Saad Ahmad Warraich were among the first to sign the condolence book when it was opened in the morning. In his message, Misri expressed condolences on behalf of the government and people of India. “We pray for peace for the departed soul,” he said. However, in 2024, after the death of then Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Jaishankar had himself visited the embassy to sign the condolence book. India had then also declared a day-long national mourning.Misri signed the book on the first day of its opening but the fact that India had not offered its condolences for Khamenei, who was killed on Saturday, had drawn criticism from the opposition. India always had mixed feelings about Khamenei who endorsed efforts to address shared regional interests with the Indian government, most notably for connectivity through the Chabahar port, but also riled India on several occasions with his “misinformed and unacceptable” utterances about J&K and Muslims in India.Khamenei met PM Narendra Modi when the latter travelled to Tehran in 2016 for what was the first bilateral visit by an Indian PM to Iran in 15 years. The Indian foreign ministry had described the meeting then as a rare honour for the PM.Iran also denied that it is indiscriminately attacking the Gulf countries where close to 10 million Indians live. “We told all our neighbours we are attacking US bases from which they target us,” said Iran’s ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali. He also said Iran has good relations with India with a historical background and wants to improve ties further. “But in this case, all governments and all people are being put to the test,” he said.According to Iranian authorities, Tehran has always sought to maintain robust ties with India and does not want the relationship to be affected by any third country. It also maintains that no country should cherry-pick on international law.Iran is also non-committal about safe passage for Indian or other tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as it believes its action will depend on specific conditions. Iran has maintained it communicated to neighbours in an official communication that US bases would be legitimate targets if Iran was attacked by the Trump administration. Tehran’s contention is insurance companies as also others looking to avoid the war are also responsible for the strait’s closure.

The stage is set at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai as two cricketing behemoths, India and England, prepare for a high-stakes showdown in the second semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. This clash, scheduled for March 5, carries the weight of history and the hunger of the present, with both teams having tasted glory in past editions. For India, playing on home soil brings both an immense advantage and a crushing level of expectation. After a rollercoaster Super 8 stage that saw them stumble against South Africa but recover with dominant wins over Zimbabwe and the West Indies, the ‘Men in Blue’ are just two steps away from defending their crown.

Ravichandran Ashwin picks India as favourites in the knock out game at Wankhede

Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, known for his analytical approach to the game, has weighed in on what he believes will be the definitive turning point of the match. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin moved past the usual talk of opening partnerships and death-over pyrotechnics to highlight a specific middle-overs chess match. He believes that the outcome of the semi-final hinges on a single player battle that pits brute force against master craftsmanship.

Ashwin noted that while India enter as the favorite—especially after chasing down a daunting 195 against the West Indies—they cannot afford complacency.

“Their bowling is nothing special as such, but at the Wankhede, no excuse will work. Your batting, bowling, and fielding have to be on point,” Ashwin remarked. He specifically pointed out that England’s ability to choke the scoring in the middle overs has been their greatest strength, led by a captain in Harry Brook who has injected a new sense of ‘calmness under pressure’ into the squad.

Also READ: “He will be the biggest factor vs England”: Mohammad Kaif’s massive statement ahead of IND vs ENG T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal

Ashwin reveals the one player battle that could decide the semi-final clash

The heart of the contest, according to Ashwin, lies in the face-off between India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, and England’s premier leg-spinner, Adil Rashid. This is not just a clash of players but a clash of philosophies. Suryakumar, a local hero at the Wankhede, has been the backbone of India’s campaign, amassing 231 runs at a strike rate of 135.88. His ‘360-degree’ style is designed to dismantle bowling plans, yet he faces his greatest test in Rashid.

Rashid has been England’s most consistent weapon, picking up 11 wickets with an economy rate of 7.83. Historically, Rashid has managed to keep Suryakumar in check, having dismissed him twice in T20s while the Indian batter has maintained a high strike rate against him. Ashwin highlighted that India’s top order has occasionally struggled against quality spin in the Powerplay and middle overs.

Suryakumar often relies on his signature sweep and slog-sweep to disrupt a spinner’s length, but Rashid’s ability to vary his pace and use the googly makes him a lethal counter. In a stadium where the boundaries are short and the pitch is a batter’s paradise, one mistake from either could shift the momentum entirely. If Suryakumar conquers Rashid, India could skyrocket to a total beyond England’s reach; if Rashid finds a way through, the Wankhede crowd might witness a silent heartbreak.

Also READ: Top 5 fastest centuries in T20 World Cup history ft. Finn Allen

Arjun Tendulkar and Saaniya Chandok (X)

Arjun Tendulkar, the son of legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar, has officially tied the knot with entrepreneur Saaniya Chandhok. The wedding ceremony took place on Thursday, March 5, bringing an end to a week of celebrations attended by several well known personalities from the cricketing world.The couple had earlier announced their engagement in August 2025 in a private ceremony attended by close family members and friends. Since then, preparations for the wedding had been underway, with celebrations beginning earlier this week in Mumbai.

The festivities included traditional functions such as mehendi and sangeet, where a number of former and current cricketers joined the Tendulkar family for the celebrations. The events created a festive atmosphere as friends and family gathered to mark the special occasion.Arjun’s wife Saaniya comes from a prominent business background. She is the granddaughter of industrialist Ravi Ghai, chairman of the Graviss Group. Based in Mumbai, Saaniya has built her own career in the pet care and animal welfare space. She is known for her work as a veterinary technician and entrepreneur and has been actively involved in initiatives related to animal care.While the wedding celebrations have now concluded, Arjun will soon turn his focus back to cricket. The 26 year old left arm pacer has so far made five appearances in the Indian Premier League for Mumbai Indians. In those matches he picked up three wickets while conceding 114 runs and also scored 13 runs with the bat.At the domestic level, Arjun currently represents the Goa cricket team after making his debut for the Mumbai cricket team in 2021.Ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction, Arjun was traded from Mumbai Indians to Lucknow Super Giants. He is expected to feature for the franchise in the upcoming season as he continues to build his career in professional cricket.