Stock market is expected to react negatively when trading resumes, with analysts cautioning that escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could weigh heavily on investor sentiment and trigger a volatile start to the week, according to market experts quoted by PTI.The US and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday, while Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the attack, sharply intensifying geopolitical risks.Market participants said the extent and duration of the conflict will determine how deep and prolonged the impact on equities could be. Apart from geopolitics, investors will also track macroeconomic data, global market cues and foreign investor activity during the holiday-shortened trading week, with markets closed on Tuesday for Holi.

Sentiment has already turned fragile after the weekend escalation, Santosh Meena, Head of Research at Swastika Investmart Ltd, said.“For an oil-importing economy like India, sustained elevated crude prices pose risks to inflation, fiscal balance, and rate-cut expectations. This external shock has emerged at a technically vulnerable moment for the market,” Meena said.He added that markets are likely to open with a cautious to negative bias amid geopolitical uncertainty and rising crude oil prices.Investors will simultaneously react to domestic triggers including Q3 GDP data and monthly auto sales numbers, while upcoming IIP and PMI readings will further shape expectations around economic momentum.“Globally, key economic releases from the US and China, along with the trajectory of crude prices, will influence risk appetite. The direction of FII flows will remain the primary driver for index movement in the near term,” Meena said.Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, climbed 2.87 per cent to $72.87 per barrel, reflecting rising energy market concerns.Highlighting the broader economic implications, Manoranjan Sharma, Chief Economist at Infomerics Ratings, said the conflict could affect global stability.“The simmering tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran escalated sharply on February 28, 2026, significantly affecting global energy security and economic stability,” Sharma said, adding that higher energy prices are already creating inflationary pressures for India.VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments Limited, warned that crude prices remain the key risk factor.“The near-term impact will be negative. Crude has spiked, and if the crude price remains high for an extended period of time, our balance of trade and balance of payments will be impacted since we import around 85 per cent of our oil requirements,” he said.He added that the medium-term market trajectory would depend on how long the conflict persists. “The market will react very negatively,” Vijayakumar said.Analysts also noted that markets ended the previous week under pressure. The BSE Sensex declined 1,527.52 points or 1.84 per cent, while the Nifty fell 392.6 points or 1.53 per cent amid geopolitical concerns and weakness in technology stocks, Ajit Mishra, SVP, Research at Religare Broking Ltd, said.Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, said investors will closely watch domestic indicators such as manufacturing and services PMI data, industrial production figures and monthly auto sales for signs of demand resilience.(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)

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar has indirectly questioned the leadership at the Pakistan Cricket Board after Pakistan crashed out of the T20 World Cup 2026 despite signing off their Super 8 campaign with a win over Sri Lanka.Pakistan’s victory in their final Group 2 fixture was not enough to overhaul New Zealand’s superior net run rate, which meant another semifinal miss at a global event. It marked Pakistan’s fourth straight failure at ICC tournaments, following early exits at the 2023 ODI World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Speaking on Tapmad, Akhtar did not mince words while criticising the team’s think tank. He labelled the management “clueless” and suggested that flawed selection calls over the past fortnight had cost Pakistan dearly.“Pakistan’s management looks completely clueless. Today’s team selection only confirmed that the XI picked over the last 15 days was wrong. There was one clear error — Saim Ayub should have played instead of Khawaja Nafay. Saim could have contributed with the ball as well,” Akhtar said.He pointed out that Pakistan’s strong showing against Sri Lanka highlighted what had been missing earlier in the tournament.“This selection showed that when you pick the right players for the right roles, they perform. Fakhar Zaman is a natural opener, yet he wasn’t played earlier. Today, Farhan, Fakhar and Abrar all delivered. That tells you everything.”Akhtar then shifted the spotlight towards PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, suggesting that while the chief may have good intentions, the structure around him is failing the team.“I have nothing against Mohsin Naqvi. From what I hear, he is a good person. He is one of the most powerful chairmen in Pakistan’s cricket history. He has influence, resources and authority. But if he cannot build a strong management structure, and the team has failed to qualify in four consecutive tournaments, then something is seriously wrong within the board.“I understand that he may not be a cricket expert and genuinely wants the team to do well. But is he seeking the right advice? It doesn’t appear so. This is a request to Naqvi: the people advising you are making you look bad. The selection committee is not doing you justice.“He may want success for Pakistan cricket, but the system around him is not helping. The real question is — who are these people? At this stage, Naqvi remains Pakistan cricket’s last hope, but he needs the right support structure to turn things around.”

Astrologer Greenstone Lobo has delivered a bold prediction ahead of the mouth-watering Super 8s clash between India and West Indies at the iconic Eden Gardens on Sunday. The equation is simple: winner advances to the semifinals, loser goes home. With a semi-final spot on the line, Lobo weighed in on planetary patterns, pressure dynamics, and what the stars suggest for India in this virtual knockout.“Panic buttons have been pressed, people have been frantically calling me or messaging me asking, ‘Will India win the World Cup? Forget about winning the World Cup, can we even reach the semi-finals?’ Lobo told TimesofIndia.com.

He acknowledged the strength of the West Indies but stressed that planetary alignments favor India. “West Indies is not a slouch, it’s a very very powerful team, but we are looking at the fact that from the patch of 1992 to 1994, there can be only one team who can do really well. We have three teams: Pakistan, South Africa, and the West Indies captain. South Africa is clearly ahead, so Pakistan and West Indies are not going to pose that much of a problem. The team is going to falter against India.”India heads into this do-or-die clash after a commanding 72-run win over Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. With South Africa already through to the semifinals, all eyes now turn to Kolkata, where the winner will face England in the semis.Lobo also highlighted the hidden opportunities for India.

“Even though we lost [against South Africa] and our openers have not done well, it is good for India. Some players who have not been part of the playing XI, like Sanju Samson, can now step in. Adding Samson can be a very big thing because he adds a lot of muscle and was born in 1994, which astrologically is favorable.”The Eden Gardens pitch promises a high-scoring spectacle. Temperatures in Kolkata are expected to hover between 26°C and 31°C, with clear skies ensuring uninterrupted play. But India’s net run rate (-0.100) is a concern. The West Indies, boosted by a massive 101-run win over Zimbabwe, have a strong +1.791 NRR.In the unlikely event of rain washing out the match, both teams would earn one point each. India’s inferior NRR would see them eliminated, while West Indies would advance to the semifinals. This adds even more weight to the do-or-die nature of Sunday’s clash.

Both India and West Indies have one win from two Super 8 matches, making this effectively a knockout. As Lobo summarised, “The team has to leave everything on the park, perform in all departments, and this will give India the best chance to win the game. Whatever has happened in previous matches is a blessing in disguise — the firepower in the team will come to the fore, and India is set to prevail.”Sunday’s clash at Eden Gardens is not just a game — it is a virtual quarterfinal between India and West Indies.

Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) infused Rs 22,615 crore into Indian equities in February, marking the highest monthly inflow in 17 months, supported by improving market valuations, strong corporate earnings and easing trade uncertainties, according to depository data reported by PTI.The inflows follow three straight months of heavy selling, during which FPIs withdrew Rs 35,962 crore in January, Rs 22,611 crore in December and Rs 3,765 crore in November.Despite the February rebound, overall foreign flows in 2025 remain negative, with FPIs pulling out a net Rs 1.66 lakh crore (USD 18.9 billion) from Indian equities amid currency volatility, global trade tensions, concerns over potential US tariffs and previously stretched valuations.Data showed that February’s investment was the strongest since September 2024, when FPIs had invested Rs 57,724 crore.Market experts attributed the turnaround largely to secondary market buying and renewed investor confidence. Vinit Bolinjkar, Head of Research at Ventura, said the inflow reflected “renewed foreign confidence post-2025 outflows.”Javed Khan, Senior Fundamental Analyst at Angel One Ltd, said three key catalysts supported the revival in flows. These included India-US trade agreements, correction in market valuations and strong corporate earnings performance. He noted that Q3 FY26 earnings grew 14.7 per cent, reinforcing confidence in India’s growth outlook.Varun Gupta, CEO of Groww Mutual Fund, also linked the inflows to improving earnings momentum and moderating valuations. He said early signs of easing global trade uncertainty, alongside India concluding multiple free trade agreements including with the EU and UK, helped improve investor sentiment.Sectoral trends showed FPIs turning aggressive buyers in financial services and capital goods stocks while continuing to reduce exposure to information technology companies. The IT segment witnessed outflows of Rs 10,956 crore amid concerns over artificial intelligence-led disruption.“FPIs had sold heavily in IT stocks due to the Anthropic shock and continued weakness in the segment. However, they turned buyers in financial services and capital goods,” said VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Investments.Looking ahead, analysts expect flows to remain supportive but cautious. Khan said March inflows are likely to stay positive, adding that upcoming Q4 earnings will be crucial in determining whether 15 per cent earnings growth in FY27 is achievable. Stability in the rupee below Rs 91 against the dollar also provides comfort to foreign investors, he said.Vijayakumar added that FPIs may adopt a wait-and-watch approach before significantly increasing allocations to emerging markets, though improving GDP growth prospects and healthy corporate earnings expectations for FY27 support medium-term inflows.He also cautioned that the ongoing Middle East conflict remains a key monitorable, particularly for its potential impact on crude oil prices and currency movements, which could influence investor sentiment going forward.

Mumbai’s theatre and film fraternity gathered under one roof on Saturday night as Prithvi Theatre hosted its Memorial Concert; an evening steeped in music, memory and mentorship. Titled Rehnuma, the concert paid tribute to the enduring spirit of the legendary Ustad Zakir Hussain, celebrating his unwavering encouragement of young musicians.

The place was abuzz as actors, directors and theatre aficionados thronged the venue, reaffirming the deep cultural bond that Prithvi continues to nurture across generations. The evening began with the lamp lighting ceremony and a spirited performance by Dhol players.

Kunal Kapoor, Trustee, Prithvi Theatre, said, “For the 42nd Memorial Concert, we presented Rehnuma. It was an acoustic version of the exclusive show that we did at Lollapalooza India 2026.” The stripped-down format lent the evening a rare intimacy, allowing every note resonate deeply with the audience. Echoing the sentiment, Zahan Kapoor, Trustee, Prithvi Theatre, added, “Keeping in tune with Zakir Hussain’s dedication to music, collaboration and generosity and his support to young musicians, we brought together some of India’s finest young talent to perform and pay tribute to the spirit of the legendary maestro.” True to that vision, the concert brought together some of the country’s most exciting emerging musicians. The ensemble featured Zubin Balaporia on keys, Gino Banks on drums, Sheldon D’Silva on bass, Mehtab Ali Niazi on sitar, S. Akash on flute, Faizan Hussain on percussion, Ishaan Ghosh on tabla, and Shikhar Naad Qureshi on djembe. Their seamless interplay reflected the collaborative ethos that Ustad Zakir Hussain championed throughout his illustrious career. The evening was as much about community as it was about music. Among those present were Kunal Kapoor, Zahan Kapoor, Shaira Kapoor, Karan Kapoor, Sanjna Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Babita, Karisma Kapoor, Neila Devi, Louiz Banks, Agastya Nanda, Navya Naveli Nanda, Nikhil Nanda, Mahesh Bhatt, Pooja Bhatt, Neena Gupta, Feroze Abbas Khan, Akash Khurana, Ila Arun, Shishir Sharma, Kirti Kulhari, Ishita Arun, Ira Dubey, Divya Dutta, Vivaan Shah, Rajit Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Suchitra Pillai, Dolly Thakore, Nimrit Kaur, Sayani Ghosh, Vrajesh Hirjee, Aditya Rawal, Suneeta Rao and Bhamini Oza, among others.

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/israel-us-iran-conflict-khamenei-tehran-massive-explosion-in-tehran-israel-says-targeting-heart-of-city-11153426” on this server.

Reference #18.adf5d217.1772356971.295e1177

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.adf5d217.1772356971.295e1177

England cricketer Jonny Bairstow has made an emotional public appeal to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for assistance in repatriating the England Lions team from Abu Dhabi, as escalating Middle East tensions between Iran, Israel and the United States have left the squad stranded amid missile threats and explosions across the UAE capital. Bairstow, currently serving in a coaching role with the Lions, took to social media in the early hours of Sunday with a desperate plea as security concerns mount in the region.

“Can you get us home?”: Bairstow’s desperate appeal to the Prime Minister of United Kingdom

The former England international responded directly to Starmer’s official statement on Iran posted Saturday evening, tweeting a stark four-word message: “Can you get us home???”  The appeal came after multiple residents in Abu Dhabi reported hearing loud explosions across the city, with state media confirming one fatality though details remain scarce .

Starmer had earlier released his position on the escalating Iran situation, but Bairstow’s reply highlighted the immediate human consequences facing British citizens caught in the conflict zone.

Can you get us home???

— Jonny Bairstow (@jbairstow21) February 28, 2026

The England wicketkeeper-batter also sought urgent communication from Emirates after his flight was cancelled, urging the airline to provide clarity and assistance.

@emirates we haven’t had any communication post flight getting cancelled.
Tried the lines of communication but nothing. Could someone please be in contact.

— Jonny Bairstow (@jbairstow21) March 1, 2026

Explosions rock Abu Dhabi as tensions in Middle East escalate

According to Reuters reports, witnesses described hearing five rapid explosions that shook windows near Abu Dhabi’s Corniche, with similar blasts reported in the Al Dhafra and Al Bateen areas. Fighter jets were observed circling over Yas Island on Saturday afternoon, adding to the atmosphere of heightened alert .

Residents received mobile phone alerts instructing them to take shelter in the nearest secure building and stay away from windows due to missile threats, underscoring the severity of the situation . The presence of strategic military installations – including Al Dhafra Air Base used by both UAE and US Air Forces, and Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port serving as the US Navy’s largest regional facility – has placed the UAE in a potentially vulnerable position amid Iran-Israel tensions.

Also READ – T20 World Cup 2026: Final-over wide triggers debate in Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Super 8 clash

ECB cancels second One-Dayer due to safety concerns

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) moved swiftly to cancel Sunday’s scheduled 50-over match between the England Lions and Pakistan Shaheens, prioritizing player and staff safety above all else. In an official statement released Saturday, the ECB confirmed: “The safety and security of our teams and staff is our top priority. We are in contact with security experts and the Government in relation to current events in the Middle East and are following official advice.” 

Bairstow’s presence in Abu Dhabi stems from his coaching involvement with the England Lions setup, a role that has kept him connected to the game following his illustrious international career. The 35-year-old, who remains a popular figure in English cricket, now finds himself navigating a very different challenge than the sporting contests he anticipated.

Also WATCH: Australia captain Alyssa Healy receives Guard of Honour from India players in her final ODI

 

South Africa vs Zimbabwe Live Score: Zimbabwe will need to fix their bowling woes against a skillful South Africa as they aim to end their spirited T20 World Cup campaign on a high in their final Super 8 fixture here on Sunday.

Reaching the Super 8 as group toppers was part of the success story for Zimbabwe, and inspired by their leader Sikandar Raza, they will be determined to push South Africa to the limit.

Bowling Discipline Key Against Proteas

South Africa are the team to beat in the ICC showpiece, and if Zimbabwe are to challenge them, they must improve their bowling performance after conceding more than 250 runs in the previous two Super 8 games against West Indies and India.

Raza knows his side can only compete with the bigger teams if all three departments click.

“At the World Cup against the best teams, you need all your three departments to be working hand in hand. And unfortunately, if one lacks, then the game runs away from you.

“So hopefully in the last game, leave everything on the park and we try and sort out all our three departments and hopefully that gives us the best chance to win the game,” Raza said after the India defeat.

Errors to Correct

Zimbabwe have been guilty of bowling too many loose balls in the Super 8 stage. They need to bowl with the discipline they displayed against Australia and Sri Lanka in the group stage.

Their unbeaten run in the group stage came on slow pitches in Sri Lanka, but the margin for error drops drastically in batting-friendly Indian conditions, as they experienced in Mumbai and Chennai.

Batting Strategy: Maximising the Powerplay

On the batting front, the opening duo of Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani need to make the most of the powerplay.

Bennett, who is yet to be dismissed in the tournament, showed against India that he can also clear the ropes. He will need to find a way to tackle a wily South African attack.

South Africa’s Strengths

Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi, with 11 wickets each, have been the standout bowlers for the Proteas, complemented well by pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada, Corbin Bosch, and frontline spinner Keshav Maharaj.

The top three — skipper Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, and Ryan Rickelton — are in top form, and it would take a special bowling effort from Raza and his team to stop them.

The middle order, including David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, and Dewald Brevis, has also made an impact in the Super 8 stage.

Venue and Context

South Africa, who have only played in Ahmedabad and Delhi so far in the tournament, return to the national capital for their final Super 8 fixture.

In the five games played here, 200 has only been breached once, with India posting 209 against Namibia.

It is effectively a dead rubber, with South Africa already through to the semifinals and Zimbabwe eliminated from the race following back-to-back losses.

Teams

Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (captain), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Ben Curran.

South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs.

MUMBAI: Can 18 doctors arrive at the same decision at the same time, specially if that decision costs each of them Rs 1.2 crore?! That is what appears to have occurred at the NY Tasgaonkar Institute of Medical Science, a college in Karjat which was allowed to start postgraduate medical courses for the first time this year.The institute was approved for 36 PG seats and entered the state’s admission counselling process only in Round 3. By the end of that round, all 18 seats under the institutional and NRI quotas, for which higher fees are charged, were shown as filled, while four subsidised state quota seats out of 18, remained vacant.When the next counselling round opened, the college did not admit candidates under the institutional or NRI quotas, citing zero availability. Days later, on Feb 20, it moved the Bombay high court saying all 18 students admitted under the quotas had cancelled their seats, and sought permission to fill the seats directly at the college level. “It is submitted that Petitioner college was listed for admission when the 2 CAP rounds were already over. In short, Petitioner college was listed for admission only in the 3rd CAP Round. Since Petitioner college was listed for the first time for postgraduate course, there was very minimum response from the students and at the end of 3rd round out of 36, only 7 students selected in the 3rd round of admission reported and/or joined Petitioner college. Out of 36 seats, nearly 29 seats thus remained vacant,” said the petition, a copy of which is with TOI.The court granted the request. As per admission rules released in the state CET Cell brochure, PG medical admissions in Maharashtra are conducted only online by the state CET Cell, with no provision for institutional-level discretion.Parent representative Sudha Shenoy said the college had told the court it had received late permission to admit students and hence 29 seats were vacant, without disclosing to the court that all seats had been filled in the preceding Round 3. The state’s legal response to this, she said, fell short.A senior official overseeing admissions at the state’s CET Cell, Dr Siddhesh Nar, said the college emailed them on Feb 26 stating that 18 institutional and NRI candidates had cancelled admissions on Feb 24 and 25, attaching cancellation forms. “We asked the Directorate of Medical Education and Research to conduct an inquiry and submit a report to the state CET Cell.” The DMER report has been sent to the CET CEll, though details have not been shared.The perfectly timed collective withdrawal of all the doctors, said experts, requires scrutiny. As one source put it, answers are needed on IP addresses used for admission registrations, the banks that issued demand drafts, how and why were doctors’ original documents returned after retention of admission, and the penalties actually collected. Vacant PG seats that can be filled directly by a private medical college without govt supervision can raise serious concerns about the admission process. Multiple calls and messages to the college met with a stock response: “Please message”. Questions messaged to the college met with no response.