Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi celebrates with teammates (AP/PTI)

Former India opener Virender Sehwag has bluntly dismissed Pakistan’s chances of reaching the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2026, stating he does not see Salman Ali Agha’s side pulling off the required miracle.Pakistan are still mathematically alive in the race for the last four, thanks to England’s Super 8 victory over New Zealand in Colombo on Friday. However, their inferior net run rate leaves them with a steep climb. Even if they defeat Sri Lanka, they would only draw level with New Zealand on points unless they secure a massive win to overhaul the Black Caps’ net run rate.

The qualification equation is daunting. If Pakistan bat first and post 160, they must win by at least 65 runs. If they are chasing the same total, they need to finish the job within 13.2 overs to move ahead of New Zealand and seal a semi-final berth.During a discussion on Cricbuzz, when the anchor outlined Pakistan’s scenario if they batted first, Sehwag responded bluntly, “Nahi hone wala. Aage padh (It won’t happen, read further).”When the focus shifted to the possibility of chasing, Sehwag was equally dismissive. “Wo bhi nahi hone wala. (This too won’t happen).”He elaborated further on the show, saying, “It won’t happen, that’s what I was saying. It is not that easy for Pakistan. The prayers might have been accepted for the England-New Zealand match. But the prayers won’t work for Pakistan in the game against Sri Lanka. They have been praying for so long, and it has not worked. So I don’t think this is possible,” Sehwag said further on Cricbuzz.Sehwag added that Pakistan’s only realistic route would involve Sri Lanka playing extremely poorly, effectively handing them the game. He questioned how a team struggling to reach 160 consistently could suddenly chase that target at breakneck speed.“If they somehow qualify, very good. If they score 160 and then win by 60 runs, Sri Lanka would have to play some poor cricket. They would need to be bowled out for 90, which is not possible. Chasing the total down in 13.2 overs is possible, but their batting is not like that,” he added.“Pakistan are anyway not able to score 160, how will they chase the total down in 14 overs? It will be tough,” he added.England have already secured top spot in Group 2 of the Super 8 stage and booked their place in the semi-finals. The remaining qualification spot from the group will be decided between Pakistan and New Zealand.

India’s Sanju Samson (ANI Photo)

India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson opened up about the special reception he experienced at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, which has now become his home ground in the IPL following his move to Chennai Super Kings. The 29-year-old recently played at the venue during India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup fixture against Zimbabwe and spoke about the strong emotional connect he felt with the Chennai crowd and the responsibility that comes with their backing.Samson revealed that the affection was visible from the moment he landed in the city, pointing to the cultural closeness between Chennai and his native Kerala.“After the trade, this is the first time I’m coming to Chennai. Right from the airport, I can feel the special love. Normally, we do come to Kerala and Chennai is very close, we do often come here, and I do feel that energy here. Fortunate to be a part of such a great and passionate fans here in Chennai,” Sanju said in a video shared by bcci.tv on Saturday.

Known for his stylish strokeplay, the right-hander admitted that performing in front of such an enthusiastic fanbase brings not only happiness but also a deeper sense of duty.“Really happy to go out there and entertain them in this way. I’m happy. More than just happiness, there’s also a little extra responsibility. When everyone comes to cheer for you, I think there’s an extra added responsibility to actually entertain them. So yeah, I’m very happy. Yes, we’ll meet soon,” he said in Tamil.On the field, Samson gave India early momentum against Zimbabwe with a quickfire 24 from 15 balls in the powerplay. Opening the batting, he set the tone with a straight six off Richard Ngarava and soon followed it with a pull shot for another maximum off Blessing Muzarabani.He also struck a fluent cut for four and rotated the strike smartly, helping India race to 46 without loss inside three overs. His cameo came to an end when he mistimed a slower short delivery from Muzarabani and was caught at deep mid-wicket, cutting short what looked like a promising innings.

Pakistan’s Shadab Khan (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi believes Shadab Khan is the frontrunner to take over the national side if Mike Hesson continues as head coach. With Pakistan’s campaign at the T20 World Cup 2026 hanging in the balance, discussions have already intensified over who could replace current skipper Salman Ali Agha. Many experts in Pakistan feel Agha’s position is under threat after the team’s underwhelming showing in the tournament.Pakistan received a timely boost when England beat New Zealand by four wickets in Colombo on Friday, keeping their semi-final hopes alive. To progress, Agha’s men must defeat Sri Lanka in Pallekele by 65 runs or chase down the target with 40 balls remaining to surpass New Zealand on net run rate.

Ahead of that crucial fixture, Afridi pointed to Shadab’s strong working relationship with Hesson, built during their time together at Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League, as a decisive factor.“If Mike Hesson stays on as the coach, then I think Shadab Khan will be made the captain. They have a connection and go back a long way, stemming from their stint with Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League. Shadab is not a bad choice, but if his performance as a bowler was better, then it would have been great,” Afridi said on Samaa.TV.“We need Shadab to come up with consistent performances. If that comes, we will also feel good about calling him the captain. I always used to say he was the backbone of the team. I think Shadab will be made the captain as they don’t have any other choice. Make him the captain, but he should be a performer,” he added.Interestingly, following Pakistan’s 61-run defeat to India earlier in the tournament, Afridi had urged team management to leave Shadab out due to his struggles with both bat and ball.Shadab later responded sharply to criticism from several former players, including Afridi. After an all-round display against Namibia, he claimed his current team could defeat India in the World Cup, something he said former players could not boast of. The remarks drew significant backlash, and he faced heavy criticism from multiple quarters.Afridi is not alone in predicting a leadership change. Earlier, Shoaib Malik also indicated that Shadab’s elevation may already be in motion.“Shadab’s name has started doing the rounds as far as captaincy is concerned,” Malik said on ARY News.As it stands, Pakistan are yet to register a win in the Super 8 stage. Their fixture against New Zealand was washed out, while they suffered a narrow defeat to England, leaving their semi-final fate dependent on a dramatic turnaround

Pakistan will face a herculean task when they take on Sri Lanka in a crucial Super 8s clash at the Pallekele International Stadium on Saturday. Pakistan’ fate, however, has an added twist — the weather. England did them a huge favour on Friday by beating New Zealand, denying the Kiwis a clear path to the knockouts. Pakistan now have their destiny in their own hands. As things stand, New Zealand sit second in Group 2 with three points and a healthy Net Run-Rate of +1.390. Pakistan, meanwhile, have a solitary point after two matches (NRR: -0.461).

To overtake New Zealand, Pakistan must either beat Sri Lanka by roughly 64 runs or chase down the target in about 13.1 overs (assuming a 160-run target).

PAK vs SL T20 World Cup Super 8s: But what if rain intervenes?

The equation is simple: a washout in the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka clash would hand New Zealand a semi-final spot. Pakistan earned their only point in the Super 8s after their earlier match against New Zealand was washed out, but another rain-affected game would only take them to two points — still short of New Zealand’s tally.Currently, the Super 8 Group 2 points table stands as follows:England – 6 points, 3 matches, NRR +1.096New Zealand – 3 points, 3 matches, NRR +1.390Pakistan – 1 point, 2 matches, NRR -0.461Sri Lanka – 0 points, 2 matches, NRR -2.800According to AccuWeather, there’s just a 1 per cent chance of rain at Pallekele on Saturday, with temperatures ranging between 19-26 degrees Celsius.If Pakistan manage to qualify, the first semi-final will be played in Colombo. If New Zealand advance, the match shifts to Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

PAK vs SL in T20Is: STAT ATTACK

Pakistan lead 17-12 in T20Is against Sri Lanka and hold a 4-2 edge in encounters since 2025, but this Super 8s showdown could very well hinge on the weather.Sri Lanka squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Kusal Perera, Pramod Madushan, Janith Liyanage, Kamil MisharaPakistan squad: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha(c), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan(w), Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Usman Tariq, Khawaja Nafay, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf

Arshdeep Singh (Getty Images)

CHENNAI: There is an infectious aura around Arshdeep Singh. The left-arm pacer can be cut-throat with his yorkers and swing on the field, but off it, he is a ball of energy.Here in Chepauk on Thursday night, Arshdeep was in ominous touch, swinging the ball both ways and keeping Zimbabwe’s batters on a tight leash. He picked up three wickets and went past Jasprit Bumrah to become India’s leading wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history with 35 scalps. And after helping India drub Zimbabwe, Arshdeep showed a different shade of himself from his menacing on-field persona at the media zone. Most of his replies were full of beans.

One such reply came when he was asked about South Africa’s win over West Indies earlier in the day, which had already eased India’s path. Grinning, he offered a playful “thank you” to the Proteas and even shared how the tension had played out back in the hotel room.“We weren’t glued to the match but kept checking the scores here and there. My family was in the hotel room and when the West Indies batters were hitting, my dad was cursing them. I said, ‘Don’t get angry, just enjoy the match, and hope that South Africa win’. They (SA) played very well, thank you to them for giving us the chance to decide our result in the next match. It was fun to watch, and we’ll try to beat them in the final,” Arshdeep said.India’s next fixture against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens will be a virtual quarterfinal, and Arshdeep knows it won’t be a straightforward affair. The Caribbean side’s power-hitters can change the script in the blink of an eye and he was quick to point out that they are not merely one-dimensional. Windies, after all, clawed their way to a competitive total despite being down to 83-7 against South Africa on Thursday.

“It’s not like they have only one gear. If you look at their game against SA, they played really nicely in the middle as well. They took the game deep and then made around 180 runs. So I guess they can also adapt according to the situation. Looking forward to the game, we’ll see how the pitch plays and what the conditions are like. The focus right now is on recovery, and we’ll assess things on game day,” said Arshdeep.One thing Arshdeep will be focused on against West Indies come Sunday is, in his own words, “trying to control the chull (urge) of bowling bad balls (laughs)”. And he went on to add that he and his fellow bowlers are happy to do the “dirty job” on batting-friendly surfaces.“As long as our batters are having fun batting on these surfaces, we’re more than happy to do the dirty job. We don’t mind being hit for runs. Our game plan has been to score big and then try to defend it,” said the 27-year-old.

Abhishek Sharma (AFP Photo)

CHENNAI: It’s finally firing just when it matters. The Indian top-order, which left a lot to be desired until now, came into its own on a batting beauty at the MA Chidambaram Stadium against a pedestrian Zimbabwe attack on Thursday. With West Indies looming next at Eden Gardens on Sunday, there is bound to be a sense of relief in the camp.To start with, Abhishek Sharma got going, and the recycled opening partnership with Sanju Samson smashed 48 off 22 balls, which set the tone for the massive total of 256 for 4. Abhishek, during the course of his 30-ball 55, got his runs at a strike rate of 183.3, but he seemed to cut down on his recklessness. The lefthander’s bat swing is one of the best in the business, so it is not always necessary for him to try and generate extra power. On Thursday, he looked to time the ball more than strive for power and played the ball a lot straighter, making run-scoring look easy and relatively risk-free.

Explaining his unhurried approach, the southpaw said: “I just wanted to spend some time on the pitch. So far, I haven’t batted 10-12 balls. I want to thank my team; they backed me and reminded me that my time will come,” Abhishek said.While Abhishek getting runs was a good sign before the must-win West Indies game, Sanju’s 24-run cameo, too, came in for praise. Firstly, the left-right combination was a welcome shift, and Zimbabwe couldn’t use one of their off-spinners right at the beginning of the Powerplay. Tilak Varma, who had to come down to No 6 because Ishan Kishan took his place at No 3, felt Sanju’s innings was important in India’s batting resurgence.“It’s important that openers give a good start; Nos 3, 4 and 5 can come out with confidence when it happens. Sanju did that brilliantly today, and it was followed by others,” the southpaw said.Tilak spoke about a change in approach by the batters ahead of the game that made a difference. According to the 23-year-old, it was coach Gautam Gambhir who sat with the batters and told them to go in with the mindset that helped them play so well in T20Is over the last year-and-a-half.“We wanted to put fear in the mind of the opposition; we wanted them to realise that we’re coming for them, even if we lost a wicket… Gautam sir reminded us of the brand of cricket we played last year and against New Zealand and South Africa prior to the World Cup. So, whatever the situation, as individuals, our plan was to go out there, smile and enjoy the game,” Tilak said.No. 6 is a position where Tilak hasn’t batted too much recently. He always enjoys a little bit of time in the middle, but following an indifferent patch at No 3, the team wanted him to take up the finisher’s role. More so, with Rinku Singh looking unlikely for the rest of the tournament following the death of his father. Tilak said he didn’t mind it at all, because “it’s all about the team’s cause”.“I played that role for India as well as Mumbai Indians a few times. So, I’m up for it. This game is about adjusting according to the situation… I was just waiting for one good innings, and it came at the right time. I am pretty confident going forward that I can win games for the team,” Tilak said about his 16-ball 44.Another player who batted with flourish was Hardik Pandya. His 23-ball 50 and economical three-over spell earned him the Player-of-TheMatch award.“It was an innings where I had to reassess my style. Initially, I was trying to hit the ball too hard. Then I realised I could time the ball and did that. Now it’s about keeping our skillset and putting our best foot forward,” Pandya said.

NEW DELHI: India’s title defence roared back to life with a commanding 72-run win over Zimbabwe, and at the heart of the statement victory was a fearless message from Tilak Varma: “We want to show the fear to the opposition.”Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Coming in at number six in a high-pressure encounter, Tilak smashed an unbeaten 44 off just 16 balls, striking at a staggering 275.00. The knock, laced with three fours and four sixes, helped India post their highest total of this T20 World Cup — 256/4 — and kept their semifinal hopes alive.

Designated as India’s number three for much of the tournament, Tilak had endured a lean patch. With a strike rate hovering around 118 in his previous five innings and visible struggles against spin on sluggish surfaces, questions had begun to surface over his role. But at Chepauk, he flipped the narrative in style.“I always say that whatever team needs, I am up for it,” Tilak said at the post-match press conference. “I have done the same role for the last four years in IPL for Mumbai Indians, switching between stabiliser and hitter. I have done it in a few games for India as well. According to the situation, I can adjust.”He added, “As I said before, I was just waiting for one innings. I am really grateful to God for that. I am pretty confident now that, going forward, I can win games for the team.”

India’s aggressive template was evident from the start. “Sanju started brilliantly this evening,” Tilak noted, praising the openers for setting the tone. “We discussed that whatever the situation is — even if we lose three or four wickets in the powerplay — we will bat with the same rhythm. We want to show the fear to the opposition that these guys are ready to hit each and every ball.”Tilak admitted the team closely followed South Africa’s dominant win over West Indies in Ahmedabad, knowing net run rate scenarios could come into play. “We were all watching the match. But as individuals and as a team, we felt it was important for us to win,” he said.“If you play good cricket, the run rate will automatically improve. We needed our cricket to be good. If our cricket is good, then God will help us in the tournament.”

England’s Will Jacks, left, and Rehan Ahmed (Photo by AP)

England pull off an exciting four-wicket win over New Zealand in the T20 World Cup Super Eights, thanks to a brilliant late fightback by Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed. The victory keeps Pakistan’s semifinal hopes alive, while England finish top of Group 2 with three wins from three matches.

England pulled off an exciting four-wicket win over New Zealand in the T20 World Cup Super Eights, thanks to a brilliant late fightback by Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed. The victory kept Pakistan’s semifinal hopes alive, while England finished top of Group 2 with three wins from three matches. New Zealand batted first and posted 159 for seven in 20 overs. Their batters got good starts but failed to convert them into big scores. Glenn Phillips scored 39, Tim Seifert made 35, and Finn Allen added 29. England’s spinners played a key role in controlling the innings, with Jacks, Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed picking up two wickets each to slow the scoring in the middle overs. England’s chase began poorly as they lost two early wickets and struggled at 58 for four. Harry Brook attempted to steady the innings, but New Zealand kept striking at regular intervals. Tom Banton and Sam Curran added valuable runs, yet England slipped to 117 for six in 17 overs, still needing 43 runs from 18 balls. At that stage, New Zealand appeared firmly in control. However, Jacks and Rehan had other plans. They attacked Glenn Phillips in the 18th over, smashing 22 runs to shift the momentum. The duo then collected 16 runs off Mitchell Santner in the next over, putting England on course for victory. With confidence high, they calmly guided the team home with three balls to spare. Earlier, there had been a brief moment of drama when Seifert was wrongly given out, only for TV replays to overturn the decision. In the end, England held their nerve to complete a thrilling comeback win.

MUMBAI: The iconic Wankhede Stadium is set to honour legends of the game, with the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Friday announcing that a stand will be named after former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri, alongside gates dedicated to Dilip Sardesai, Eknath Solkar, and Diana Edulji.While the stand will be named in honour of former Mumbai captain Shastri, three different gates of the venue will be named after players from the city.

“The Apex Council approved a proposal to name Level 1 Stand below the Press Box at the iconic Wankhede Stadium after former India captain and renowned commentator Ravi Shastri, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Mumbai and Indian cricket, both as a player and as a coach,” the MCA said.The decisions were taken during an apex council meeting of the MCA here.Gate No. 3 will be named after Sardesai, who played 30 Tests for India and an overall 179 First-Class matches between 1960-61 and 1972-73.Gate No. 5 will be named in honour of Edulji, who played an overall 20 Tests and 34 ODIs between 1976-1993.Similarly, Gate No. 6 will be named after Solkar, a former all-rounder and one of the best close-in fielders who featured in 27 Tests and seven ODIs for India.“Mumbai cricket is built on the foundation laid by our stalwarts. It is our responsibility to honour those who have brought pride to the city and the nation,” MCA president Ajinkya said.“The proposal to name Level 1 Stand below Press Box after Ravi Shastri is a tribute to his immense contribution as a player, leader and coach.“Similarly, dedicating gates at (the) Wankhede Stadium to Dilip Sardesai, Eknath Solkar and Diana Edulji ensures that every fan who walks into the stadium is reminded of the legends who shaped our glorious cricketing heritage.“These decisions reflect MCA’s commitment to celebrating its past while inspiring future generations,” he added.