Abhishek Sharma and Sahibzada Farhan (Agency Image)

Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has edged closer to the summit of the ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings, tightening the race with India’s Abhishek Sharma after the latest weekly update released on Wednesday.

T20I Batting Rankings

Farhan climbed to second place following a historic outing at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The right-hander became the first cricketer to score two centuries in a single edition of the tournament, bringing up his second hundred against Sri Lanka in Pallekele during the final Super 8s fixture for both sides. The knock not only lifted him one spot in the rankings but also earned him a new career-best rating.Also See: South Africa vs New Zealand Live Score T20 World Cup Semifinal

Abhishek Sharma continues to occupy the No. 1 position, maintaining a 26-point cushion over Farhan. The Pakistan batter now sits on 848 rating points after overtaking England’s Phil Salt, having piled up 383 runs during the World Cup to significantly narrow the gap at the top. The end of the Super 8s stage has triggered several other movements in the batting charts. India’s Ishan Kishan advanced to fourth place with 783 rating points, while Tilak Varma moved up to sixth with 749 points as both broke into the top 10. South Africa’s Dewald Brevis also gained a position to settle in eighth. Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett enjoyed one of the biggest jumps, soaring six places to 11th after collecting 292 runs in the competition. South African duo Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram also progressed, rising to 13th and 16th respectively.

T20I bowling rankings

In the T20I bowling rankings, India spinner Varun Chakravarthy remains at the top, though his lead has been trimmed to just 18 points as the tournament heads into the knockout rounds. Chakravarthy has taken 12 wickets so far, but Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed is closing in after moving up two spots to third overall. Among other bowlers, India’s Jasprit Bumrah climbed to seventh, while Arshdeep Singh made a six-place leap to 13th. England’s Liam Dawson surged nine positions to share 14th place, and South Africa pacer Lungi Ngidi advanced six spots to 20th. The all-rounder rankings continue to be led by Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza. India’s Hardik Pandya is now his closest challenger after moving up one place to second, displacing Pakistan’s Saim Ayub. West Indies veteran Jason Holder was another major gainer, jumping eight positions to 11th following a strong World Cup showing with both bat and ball.

India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (ANI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India are heading into their sixth T20 World Cup semi-final in 10 editions and will take on England at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, hoping to defend their title.Their journey in this tournament goes back to 2007, when they reached the semis in the very first edition. India beat Australia in Durban and then defeated Pakistan in the final in Johannesburg to win their first T20 World Cup.

Gautam Gambhir scored 75 in the final, while bowlers like RP Singh and Irfan Pathan played key roles under captain MS Dhoni.After that high, India failed to make the semis in 2009, 2010 and 2012. They returned to the last four in 2014, beating South Africa thanks to Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 72. However, despite Kohli’s 77 in the final, Sri Lanka chased down 131 to deny India the trophy.In 2016, at home, India again reached the semis but lost to eventual champions West Indies in Mumbai.A big moment came in 2022 when India faced England in a knockout for the first time. India made 168/6, with Kohli and Hardik Pandya scoring fifties, but England’s openers chased it down without losing a wicket, winning by 10 wickets before lifting the title.The rivalry continued in 2024. India batted first and scored 171, led by Rohit Sharma’s 57. This time, England collapsed for 103, and India won by 68 runs. They went on to beat South Africa in the final and claim their second T20 World Cup title.Now, India and England are set to meet in the semi-final for the third straight edition. And it is expected to add another chapter to their growing World Cup rivalry.

India vs Vietnam (Photo by @afcasiancup on X)

NEW DELHI: India began their Women’s Asian Cup campaign with a narrow 2-1 defeat to Vietnam in a dramatic Group C clash on Wednesday. Ngân Thi Van Su gave Vietnam the lead in the 30th minute, curling a right-footed shot into the top corner. Vietnam nearly made it 2-0 early in the second half, but VAR ruled out the goal for handball in the buildup.

India responded quickly, equalising just four minutes later when substitute Sanfida Nongrum struck on a counterattack, lifting the ball over the goalkeeper. The match appeared headed for a draw until stoppage time, when Vu Thi Hoa delivered a cross from the left and Van Su fired the winner through a defender’s legs. It marked a disappointing start for India, who had also faced setbacks in the 2022 edition, when they were forced to withdraw as hosts due to a COVID-19 outbreak in their squad. In the other Group C match, Japan secured a 2-0 win over Taiwan but had to be patient. Despite dominating nearly 90% possession and registering 30 shots, Japan struggled to break through a determined defence for more than an hour. Momoko Tanikawa finally opened the scoring in the 61st minute after controlling a long pass and finishing calmly from close range. Kiko Seike sealed the victory in stoppage time with a well-timed header. Taiwan failed to produce a shot on target but kept the scoreline close. With temperatures soaring to 37°C (99°F), officials allowed cooling breaks in both halves.Elsewhere in the tournament, Australia, South Korea, North Korea and China also started with wins as all 12 teams completed their opening matches in Australia.

South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

South Africa captain Aiden Markram admitted it was simply a night where very little went his side’s way as a rampant New Zealand national cricket team stormed into the T20 World Cup final with a crushing nine-wicket win at Eden Gardens.New Zealand’s charge was led by a breathtaking 33-ball century from Finn Allen, the fastest hundred in T20 World Cup history, as they chased down 170 in just 12.5 overs. For Markram, the damage was done early.

“I think you look at conditions early and they bowled really well up front. Ball didn’t quite feel like coming on, some were just stopping on the wicket and some were hitting quite low on the bat and they made scoring really tough and through that pressure builds and you lose wickets unfortunately,” Markram said.He credited the Kiwi bowling unit for squeezing his side during the powerplay, where scoring never quite flowed. “So give credit to their bowling unit and obviously with the bat, someone plays an innings like that, don’t think you will come out on the right side of the result many times as a fielding team.”South Africa eventually posted 169 for 8, thanks largely to Marco Jansen’s unbeaten 54 off 30 balls and a crucial stand with Tristan Stubbs after they had slumped to 77 for 5. Markram felt there was still hope at the break.“To get to 170 was a great effort to be fair. At the halfway point we really felt like we had a sniff,” he said.That optimism quickly faded as Allen and Tim Seifert tore into the bowling. “But then, as it goes in T20 cricket.. (in) the powerplay (they) got off to a flyer and can’t protect every boundary unfortunately, and yeah they got away and then from there it was really hard to pull it back.”Markram reserved special praise for the openers who killed the contest inside the first six overs. “So we give massive credit to Finn Allen’s knock, Tim Seifert’s knock to kill the game as early as they did, and yeah unfortunately, it was just that bad night for us tonight.”Reflecting on what could have been done differently, the skipper suggested a quicker tactical adjustment with the bat might have helped.“It’s hard to say right now. We’ll reflect as the group. I think we expected the wicket to play really well. It looked pretty good to the eye, so potentially just adapt a bit quicker with the bats and go back to maybe a bit more old school approach, set it up and try to scrape your way to 190, and maybe you’ll be in the game from there.”Despite the disappointment of falling short of another final, Markram stood firmly behind his squad. “So yeah, we’ll reflect as a group. Obviously disappointed with the result, but very proud of this group of guys who have played some really good cricket throughout this comp, and it’s just an unfortunate evening really.”

India’s Hardik Pandya (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Former England seamer Stuart Broad has issued a strong warning to England ahead of their semifinal clash against India, singling out Hardik Pandya as the player who could decisively swing the contest.Broad stressed that Pandya’s impact goes far beyond numbers on the scoreboard. The Indian all-rounder has the rare ability to alter the tempo of a match, whether through late-innings power-hitting or by delivering crucial overs with the ball. According to Broad, Pandya relishes high-pressure scenarios and carries a self-assurance that energises those around him.

The semifinal also presents an added layer of comfort for Pandya, as it will be played at his IPL home venue. Familiarity with the surface and conditions, combined with strong crowd backing, could further enhance his influence on the game.Offering a tactical perspective, Broad suggested England must be smart about when Pandya comes to the crease. He believes the key lies in forcing him to bat earlier than he would ideally prefer, before he can slip seamlessly into his devastating finishing role.“If I am an England bowler, I think I need to get him in after 12 overs so I can bowl when he’s not in the hitting zone straightaway. He might think I would like to look at a few before going at the end. I would see that as my chance to get him out before he can hurt me in the last four overs. If India are just three or four down entering the death overs, that’s where India get over 200, and you are in a bit of trouble,” Broad said on the For the Love of Cricket podcast.Broad further explained that Pandya becomes especially dangerous if India lay a strong foundation in the first half of the innings. With a solid platform in place, the all-rounder’s confidence and presence can take over the game.“If India sets up a good first ten overs, Hardik Pandya becomes a huge danger. When he walks in, he’s extremely confident. He has got an aura about him and an ego on him in a positive way. He just believes he can do the job. He is so wiry and slim that you think how he can hit the ball 100 metres like he does. But he does it so effortlessly,” he added.

NEW DELHI: England captain Harry Brook says unity, belief and staying calm under pressure have helped his team reach the T20 World Cup semi-finals — and they don’t need to play a “perfect game” to win the title.England, two-time champions, will face fellow two-time winners India in the semi-final for the third straight edition. While India were labelled favourites at the start, both teams have had ups and downs in the tournament.

When asked if England would need a flawless performance to beat India at home, Brook said: “No, I don’t believe that we need a perfect game to win the competition to be honest.” He added, “The games that we have won have been nowhere near perfect and we’ve still managed to get the wins convincingly in some of them and then tight (in) the other games.”Brook credited team spirit. “But it’s just the unity that we’ve had to be able to get across the line, the belief that everybody’s shown throughout the games and the calmness that we’ve had when the bowlers have stood at the top of the mark,” he said.Calling the clash special, he said, “It’s up there for sure. It’s a dream come true for most of us to play in a World Cup semifinal against the home nation on a very iconic ground, so we’re all really looking forward to it.”Though confident, he admitted, “we haven’t quite played that perfect performance (yet) and I feel like it’s just around the corner… Hopefully, it’s tomorrow (Thursday) night.”Brook also backed out-of-form former captain Jos Buttler, saying, “There should be no reason to question why he’s on the team.”He dismissed concerns about playing spin and said one big individual effort could decide the match: “We don’t feel like we’re ever out of a game so far… I feel like there’s a big individual performance to come.”

Fire caused by a shrapnel falling on the Fujairah Oil Terminal in the UAE. (AP)

The ATP Challenger tournaments in Fujairah, UAE have been cancelled amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The ATP Tour vowed to cover the entire cost of flying the players out of the country after facing criticism for demanding 5,000 euros (Rs 5.36 lakh) for a chartered jet. For contrast, the prize money for the entire ATP Challenger 50 tournament – 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams – is $63,000 (54,000 euros; Rs 57.98 lakh) with the singles winner taking home less than $10,000 ($8,600; Rs 9.2 lakh).The events on the UAE’s east coast, located on the Gulf of Oman, were scheduled from March 2–8 (Fujairah 1) and March 9–15 (Fujairah 2) but will not take place after US and Israel’s war on Iran brought the entire Gulf region into danger.

Despite the first strikes occurring on Saturday (February 28), the tournament proceeded as planned on Monday (March 2). The most striking visuals came a day later when Belarusian Daniil Ostapenkov and Japan’s Hayato Matsuoka rushed for cover mid-way into their second round qualifying match. A woman, possibly a tournament official, announced, “Everybody inside the lounge, please! Go, go, go!” Alongside the players, ball kids and officials also scrambled for safety.After some deliberation, the ATP cancelled both tournaments. “Following ongoing security concerns in the region, the ATP Challenger Tour events scheduled in Fujairah this week and next week (Fujairah 2) have been cancelled,” the ATP said in a statement.“The safety and well-being of our players and tournament personnel is our highest priority. Players remain on site and are being fully supported, with accommodation and all immediate needs covered while onward travel arrangements are explored,” it added.As if the decision to proceed with a tournament under such conditions wasn’t controversial enough, the ATP Tour reached out to players with the idea of potentially organising a charter flight for the signed-up players at €5,000 per person.

Large fire and plume of smoke is visible after, according to the authorities, debris of an Iranian intercepted drone hit the Fujairah oil facility. (AP/PTI)

“The ATP is potentially organizing a charter flight on Thursday 5th March from Muscat. Departure at 3.00pm, going to Milan, stopping on the way in Egypt. The cost is 5,000 Euro per person,” said the email that TimesofIndia.com has seen.According to this plan, while the logistics were not entirely clear, the players would have been required to take a three-hour drive from Fujairah to Muscat, Oman which would necessitate a border crossing.Two hours later, to make matters worse, another email stated that the ATP was not directly organising such a flight. Instead, it would explore “available travel options with third-party providers.”The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) joined the chorus demanding the ATP work towards player safety. It also said it would reimburse the players €2,500 each to leave the UAE. “We are taking this step to ensure that no player is forced to choose between their safety and their financial stability,” it said in a statement.“We call on the ATP to join us and cover the remaining 2,500 euro per player and work collaboratively toward solutions that put players first.”After the remonstration by players and the PTPA, the ATP Tour did a U-turn and agreed to cover the costs of flying players out of the region and toward safety.‘Heard the sounds of jets’Ukraine’s Vladyslav Orlov said he heard jets during his second-round qualifying win over Ronit Karki on Tuesday.“When I was playing I heard the sounds of the jets flying here and there,“ Orlov said in a video posted on social media. ”And there is smoke going here next to the mountain, so not very safe here right now.”

Instargram Story by Ilya Ivashka who was competing at the ATP Challenger event in Fujairah, UAE. (Instagram)

Ilya Ivashka, who was due to play the qualifying match on Wednesday, shared a screenshot of the email on Instagram, with the caption: “no words needed @atptour” followed by the hand-clapping emojis.Russia’s Marat Sharipov wrote on Instagram: “Thank you @atpchallenger for arranging us a charter for ONLY 5000 euros! That’s slightly more than the prize money after taxes for winning the tournament, but I appreciate the gesture!”Japan’s Takuya Kamasaka posted an image of Fujairah Oil Terminal with the caption: “The intercepted drone fell on an oil facility, causing a fire. Today’s match has been cancelled. I want to go home safely…,” he wrote on Instagram.

Instagram Story by Japan’s Takuya Kamasaka.

Finn Bass, who was originally scheduled to play in the tournament, was shocked that the tournament began at all.“Was meant to be playing there this week, cannot believe they’ve gone ahead and not cancelled the event. Madness,” he wrote on X before the tournament was called off.The UAE later confirmed that shrapnel had landed at the Fujairah Oil Terminal, not far from the Tennis Country Club Fujairah. It also said that the armed forces had intercepted a drone attack but no casualties were reported.After the ATP 500 Dubai Tennis Championships played last week, players were also stuck due to closed airspace in the region. Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev are two of the prominent names who were affected. Both have entered the Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, California, which starts on Wednesday (March 4). However, neither will play before Friday at the earliest.

NEW DELHI: Babar Azam has been dropped from Pakistan’s ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against Bangladesh, as the selectors begin reshaping the team with an eye on next year’s 50-over World Cup. The decision follows Pakistan’s disappointing T20 World Cup campaign in India and Sri Lanka, where they failed to reach the semi-finals.

Babar endured a lean run in the T20 tournament, managing only 91 runs. Despite that dip in form, his ODI numbers remain impressive — 6,501 runs and 20 centuries in 140 matches — making his omission a significant call. Alongside him, opener Saim Ayub, all-rounders Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz, and fast bowler Naseem Shah have also been left out of the 15-member squad.In a clear sign of transition, Pakistan have drafted in six uncapped players: Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan and Shamyl Hussain. The three ODIs will be played in Dhaka on March 11, 13 and 15, giving the newcomers a chance to prove themselves on the international stage.Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman has been ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury during the T20 World Cup.Fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi will captain the side, the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed, as the team enters what appears to be a rebuilding phase.With the next ODI World Cup scheduled to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October next year, Pakistan seem focused on refreshing their squad and testing new combinations in the lead-up to the global event.

Australia’s Glenn Maxwell (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Veteran Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has underlined that he has no immediate plans to step away from T20 internationals, with both the 2028 T20 World Cup and the Los Angeles Olympics firmly on his radar.Now 37, Maxwell would be 40 by the time Australia hosts the 2028 T20 World Cup, an event slated to take place only months after cricket features at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Speculation around his future intensified following Australia’s early exit at the recent T20 World Cup and a lean patch with the bat, but the explosive all-rounder insists he is not rushing into any retirement decision.“I think not making a decision around my future was probably based more on what’s to come over the next 12 months. There’s not a whole lot of T20 cricket planned, so there’s probably no need to make any sort of formal announcements and just see how my body’s going and see how I’m travelling, and if there’s an opportunity to play in the future, hopefully I’m fit and firing,” Maxwell told reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday.Australia’s T20I calendar remains light until August 2027, with only eight bilateral fixtures currently scheduled. Maxwell has already called time on his ODI career, yet he remains open to prolonging his stint in the shortest international format.When quizzed about the prospect of featuring at both the 2028 Olympics and the home T20 World Cup, Maxwell struck a hopeful yet measured tone.“Fit and firing? Hopefully. But yeah, not setting any dates. I felt like I got better and better throughout the World Cup. I probably more judge it on how I’m running around the field and how I’m feeling, probably more so than any statistics regarding wickets and runs. And I just felt like I was able to get through games a lot easier. Felt like I was playing my role as well as I could, and felt like I still had plenty to offer,” he said.Although his recent returns in T20Is and the Big Bash League have been modest, Maxwell believes his value to the side extends beyond the numbers alone.Australia’s next T20I assignment is a three-match series against Bangladesh in June, part of a wider tour that also includes ODIs in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Maxwell confirmed that discussions with selectors are ongoing regarding those plans.“We’ve had some discussions about what the next little bit looks like, and we’ll continue to have really open and fluid discussions going forward. As I said, if I’m fit and firing and available, I’ll be ready,” he said.Away from the international arena, Maxwell is set to remain busy on the franchise circuit. He has agreed to a two-year extension with the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League and will also feature in the Pakistan Super League, Major League Cricket and a new Europe-based T20 competition later this year. He is due to represent the Hyderabad Kingsmen in the PSL, marking his debut in the tournament.“Looked at the window that I had in between the World Cup and MLC, and with us not going as far into the tournament as I probably previously planned, found myself with a bit more time in between tournaments, and just felt like I would have been going in cold into the next one,” Maxwell said.“So probably bridges a timing gap beautifully. And getting the opportunity to get to a new team and start at the start with someone – I really like those opportunities. I think to start with a team from the very start is nice to be able to be a part and build a brand,” he mentioned.