Pakistan Hockey Federation president Tariq Bugti has resigned following the controversy over the Pakistan national team’s accommodation during its recent tour of Australia for the FIH Pro League.Bugti confirmed on Thursday that he had sent his resignation to PHF’s patron-in-chief, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.“I have sent my resignation letter to the PM but I urge him and Field Marshal Asim Munir to conduct an impartial inquiry into the whole incident which took place in Australia during the FIH Pro League,” Bugti said, as cited by news agency PTI.Field hockey is Pakistan’s national sport, though cricket remains more popular in the country. Pakistan, which has won three Olympic gold medals and four World Cups, is currently ranked 14th in international hockey.The controversy began after a video circulated on social media showing Pakistan players standing on the streets of Sydney with their luggage.Soon after the video went viral, Pakistan captain Shakeel Ammad Butt released another clip saying everything was fine and there were no issues with accommodation.However, after returning home, Butt criticised the PHF at a press conference in Lahore, blaming the federation for mismanagement during the tour. In another video, he said the team had to wander the streets due to lack of accommodation and also had to “wash dishes before playing a match.”He also said nine players had not received daily allowances from the Pakistan Sports Board and PHF for the past year.Players questioned why they faced logistical problems in Australia despite the government providing funds to the PHF for participation in all three phases of the Pro League, whose second phase ended earlier this week.Following Butt’s remarks, Bugti imposed a two-year ban on him, saying the captain had brought disrepute to Pakistan hockey.Bugti’s resignation comes as the PHF and the Pakistan Sports Board blame each other for the episode. Bugti said the PSB handled arrangements for the Australia tour and was responsible for what happened. When asked about a cheque of more than one million rupees sent by the PSB to the PHF for hotel expenses, he did not respond.The team’s head coach has also offered to resign. He said some players were very indisciplined, including Butt, who used abusive language against teammates and affected the team’s performance in the Pro League.Pakistan have lost all eight matches so far and are last among nine teams in the competition. They have also failed to qualify for the last three Olympic Games and finished 12th at their most recent Hockey World Cup appearance in 2018.Pakistan will travel to Egypt in four months to compete in the final qualifying tournament for the next World Cup.

Captain Sikandar Raza said the strong group-stage run by the Zimbabwe at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has earned them respect, and he hopes the team can continue its run in the Super Eights against stronger opponents.Zimbabwe signalled their ability to challenge top teams by defeating Australia and Sri Lanka in Group B matches.“We keep our sights forward. If I keep our eyes on the present…I don’t think anyone gave us a chance. To win everyone’s hearts and respect, it is a good position to be in,” Raza said in the post-match presentation after his team’s win over SL.Zimbabwe now move into the Super Eights, where they will face reigning champions India, two-time champions West Indies cricket team, and 2024 finalists South Africa.But Raza said his side is not intimidated.Also read: Sikandar roars in Colombo: Zimbabwe stun Sri Lanka, fire warning shot at India
“We take one game at a time. We arrive on the 21st, and then train on the 22nd, and then it is show-time. Whatever happens, happens. If we can win two out of three games, who knows what can happen. Everyone loves an underdog story,” Raza added.Reflecting on the win over Sri Lanka, Raza said the hosts fell short of a defendable total.“When we lost the toss, all I said to the boys was if we are truly playing good cricket, why does the toss matter? I bowled, and said finger-spinners are not finding a lot of turn, so we can put them under pressure.“I came into the changing room and said they were 10 runs short (at the break). We have trained for every situation. We have the right personnel to send in at the right time. We have got all those roles clear and that is why you see the confidence in the changing room,” he said.For now, Raza said he wants to enjoy the team’s progress into the Super Eights.“We are unbeaten so far, but it is only the next game that comes into my head. Nice position to be in as a captain but I will try and enjoy at least tonight,” he said.

Afghanistan vs Canada Live Score, T20 World Cup 2026: With Super 8 qualification no longer possible for both teams, the focus shifts to performance, evaluation, and finishing with a result that reflects the effort shown across the tournament.

T20 World Cup: Schedule | Points table

Afghanistan arrive after a campaign defined by narrow margins and missed chances. Their most dramatic moment came in a double Super Over contest against South Africa, but that effort was not enough to keep them in contention. Attention now turns to how their batting order functions as a unit and whether the bowling group can produce sustained pressure rather than isolated spells. The match also comes at a time when questions about experience and transition are part of the wider conversation around squad balance.

Canada enter with momentum from individual achievements that brought attention to their campaign. A record-setting century by a teenage opener and strong partnerships at the top have shown the side’s batting potential. However, inconsistency with the ball has limited their ability to control matches. Their final outing offers another opportunity to deliver a more complete performance across both innings.

Beyond the result, this game provides a platform to assess combinations, test tactical approaches, and measure progress made during the tournament. For players, it is also a chance to influence future selection decisions. For supporters, it is a final opportunity to watch two teams that have produced notable moments despite early exits.

Lucknow: On a day when the result was a mere formality and Karnataka’s place in the Ranji Trophy final was already assured, the umpires briefly kept the semifinal against Uttarakhand alive — much to the bemusement of players and broadcasters alike. The only moment of intrigue at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday came at tea, when captains Kunal Chandela and Karun Nair — standing in for an injured Devdutt Padikkal — shook hands, signalling what everyone believed was the end of proceedings. Presentation signage was rolled out, players drifted towards the ceremony area, and one even headed to the dressing room to pack for the airport.

However, a few minutes later, play was ordered to resume after tea. With Uttarakhand six wickets down, umpires pointed to the rulebook, noting that an outright result for Karnataka was still technically possible. A visibly disgruntled Karnataka side returned to the field, but with the match long decided, Abhay Negi (57 n.o.) and Saurabh Rawat (53 n.o.) treated the final session as batting practice, while the opposition wound down the clock. The match was finally called off less than an hour after tea, with Uttarakhand at 260/6. Karnataka will now host first-time finalists Jammu and Kashmir at the KSCA Rajnagar Stadium — the first time the northern Karnataka region will stage a Ranji Trophy final. “We are playing the final after a long time. We’ve been working very hard for the last few years but couldn’t quite make it,” said Karnataka head coach Yere Goud. “Playing at home makes it even more special.” Goud was quick to underline the challenge posed by Jammu and Kashmir. “They have done extremely well, beating MP and Bengal. A lot of credit should go to them. They are a very dangerous side. We need to play good cricket and focus on our processes — we’ll have to play well to beat them.” Karnataka sweat over Padikkal Karnataka skipper Devdutt Padikkal did not take the field on the final day after suffering a cut while fielding on Wednesday, which required five stitches on his right hand. However, Goud played down concerns over his availability for the final starting Tuesday. “When I saw the cut, I was pretty sure he’ll make it. He probably needs two to three days’ rest and should be fine for the game,” Goud said. Shreyas’ landmark The match also marked a personal milestone for leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal, who became the latest Karnataka bowler to reach 300 first-class wickets, which came in his 97th appearance in the format. The 32-year-old is the side’s leading wicket-taker this season with 46 scalps. “It’s a special feeling to reach the milestone in a semifinal, and it gives me a lot of confidence going into the final,” said Shreyas. Earlier, Karnataka, resuming at 299/6, were bowled out for 323, with KL Rahul left unbeaten on 86 after running out of partners. Karnataka’s focus now shifts to Hubballi and a chance to add a ninth Ranji Trophy title to their storied history. SCOREBOARD Karnataka (I innings): 736 Uttarakhand (II innings): 233 Karnataka (II innings, o/n 299/6): KL Rahul (not out) 86, Vyshak Vijaykumar st S Rawat b Mishra 0, Shikhar Shetty b Mishra 7, Prasidh Krishna (run out) 7, Devdutt Padikkal (absent hurt). Extras (B-8; NB-4; LB-2; W-1) 15. Total (all out; 74.3 overs) 323 Fall of wickets: 7-299, 8-311, 9-323 Bowling: Abhay Negi 19-9-63-2, Janmejay Joshi 9-0-54-0, Mayank Mishra 18-3-69-4, Avneesh Sudha 12-1-50-1, J Suchith 12-0-59-1, Aditya Rawat 3.3-0-15-0, Lakshya Raichandani 1-0-3-0. Uttarakhand (II innings): Bhupen Lalwani c Kruthik b Prasidh 15, Prasanth Chopra c Kruthik b Vyshak 0, Avneesh Sudha c Rahul b Shreyas 66, Lakshya Raichandani c Kruthik b Prasidh 10, J Suchith c Aneesh (sub) b Shreyas 19, Saurabh Rawat (not out) 53, Kunal Chandela st Kruthik b Shreyas 20, Abhay Negi (not out) 57. Extras (B-12; LB-2; W-6) 20. Total (6 wkts; 62 overs) 260. Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-48, 3-72, 4-107, 5-128, 6-156. Bowling: Vidyadhar Patil 4-0-13-0, Prasidh Krishna 6-1-17-2, Vyshak Vijaykumar 4-0-22-1, Shikhar Shetty 24-1-97-0, Shreyas Gopal 19-1-83-3; Karun Nair 2-0-9-0; Mayank Agarwal 2-0-5-0.

Former India captain Kris Srikkanth has backed Varun Chakravarthy as India’s most dangerous weapon at the moment, even suggesting that the mystery spinner is proving more lethal than Jasprit Bumrah in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. Srikkanth also expressed surprise that Varun is not receiving the recognition he deserves.Varun has been in exceptional form, claiming nine wickets in four matches at an average of 6.88 and an economy rate of 5.16. In India’s game against the Netherlands, he returned outstanding figures of three for 14 from three overs.

Interestingly, in the 21 matches where Varun and Bumrah have featured together, the spinner leads the wicket tally 30-22. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth said that batters are still unable to decipher Varun’s variations.“Look at the pitch maps — most of his deliveries are around off-stump and middle-stump. Against right-handers, the ball just angles in slightly and then turns. His googly comes in sharply. Most of his wickets are from good length or just short of good length. Not even full deliveries. Even his so-called short balls are deceptive.”“People don’t know what he’s bowling. Is it a googly? Is it the straight one? Is it slower? Is it quicker? No one knows. Suddenly he bowls one faster. Then he changes speed again. Multiple speeds. Long run-up, relaxed action — but incredibly deceptive.”“Frankly speaking, he doesn’t get enough credit. Bumrah is fantastic. You won’t easily find a bowler like Bumrah,” said Srikkanth.Although Shivam Dube was named Player of the Match against the Netherlands, Srikkanth felt Varun was equally deserving.“Today, yes, Shivam Dube played a blinder and deserved Man of the Match. I’m not denying that. But if you look at Varun’s figures — three wickets for very few runs, all top-order wickets — why wasn’t he even considered a contender for Man of the Match? No one even thought about it,” he said.Since making a comeback after an underwhelming start to his international career, Varun has taken 47 wickets in 27 matches across 2024 and 2025. In 2026 alone, he already has 13 wickets from seven games. Srikkanth believes that if India lift the trophy, Varun could well be Player of the Tournament.“Hundred percent (he can be the Player Of The Tournament). Because of consistency. In every match he plays, even on a bad day, he gives away only 34 or 35 runs. For a spinner, four overs for 36 runs is absolutely acceptable in T20 cricket. But within that, he still takes one or two wickets.”“He’s casually delivering match-winning performances. But he’s not celebrated enough,” said Srikkanth.The former chief selector went a step further, calling Varun a modern-day great in the format and comparing his current impact to what Bumrah delivered in T20Is a few years ago.“Varun, you are a modern-day great. I’m telling you honestly from my heart — not because you’re Tamil, not because you’re from Tamil Nadu or Chennai. No. Purely because of ability. Every batter is struggling. They don’t know how to face him. They don’t know whether to defend. They don’t know whether to attack. They don’t know what to do against him.”“That’s exactly what Bumrah used to be a couple of years ago. Bumrah is still doing brilliantly,” said Srikkanth.Varun will next feature in India’s Super 8 encounter against South Africa on Sunday, February 22.

Veteran Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has issued a stern warning to India opener Abhishek Sharma after the batter registered three consecutive ducks at the start of the T20 World Cup 2026. Before India’s high-profile clash with Pakistan last Sunday in Colombo, Amir had labelled Abhishek a “slogger,” and the batter’s early struggles have now drawn further scrutiny. In India’s final Group A match against the Netherlands on Wednesday, Abhishek fell on the third ball of the first over to Aryan Dutt. Trying to play a pull shot, he was beaten by the pace as the ball skidded through and hit the stumps. This dismissal marked his third duck in as many games, with just eight deliveries faced across the three matches.

With this, Abhishek equalled the record for the most ducks by an Indian in T20 World Cups, joining Ashish Nehra. Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi and Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan top the overall list with five ducks each. Speaking on the Pakistani show Game on hai, Amir drew parallels between Abhishek’s early struggles and those faced by Pakistan opener Saim Ayub during his initial PSL campaigns. He stressed that young batters are quickly tested by quality bowlers who spot technical flaws. “Saim had the same issue when he came to play the PSL a few years back. He was new and was hitting no-look shots. Nobody knew his weakness because most of his shots were on the leg side. Now, if you bowl at the third or fourth stump line, he struggles to decide. Even in his last two matches, he was dismissed playing on the off side. Unless he improves his off-side game, he cannot progress. Strong bowlers will always test your weakness and push you out of your comfort zone,” Amir said. He added specifically about Abhishek: “Same for Abhishek. He wants every ball in the slot so he can hit. But at the bigger stages, or in ODIs, har ball lapete mein nahi le sakte (you cannot slog every ball in pressure cricket). Salman Agha and Aryan Dutt got him out in similar fashion. International cricket will expose you.” India will be hoping that Abhishek overcomes this poor run of form and regains his rhythm ahead of the Super 8 stage of the tournament.

Shivam Dube said guidance from former India captain MS Dhoni helped shape his batting approach after he played a match-winning 67-run knock in the last group-stage match of the T20 World Cup against Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday.Dube said he had struggled against pace bowling early in his career, but advice from Dhoni on strike rotation and controlled intent helped him improve in pressure situations.

“When I first came into the IPL, I struggled against fast bowlers and wasn’t striking the ball cleanly. I realised that if I want to dominate at this level and I have the power, I needed to work on that aspect. I put in significant effort during the off-season. Mahi bhai told me that it’s not necessary to hit sixes every time. Boundaries and strike rotation are equally important.“That clarity has helped me. If I get a good ball, I look for a boundary or rotate strike. In the death overs, I will naturally go harder, but early in the innings, my focus is on smart intent,” Dube told Jio Hotstar, as cited by news agency IANS.Speaking about pressure situations, Dube said his focus is on batting according to the match scenario and staying till the end if required.“I don’t feel pressure; I focus on the situation. If wickets fall, my responsibility is to bat deep. If I stay till the end, I know I can add 10–15 crucial runs in the final over. I avoid taking unnecessary risks in the middle overs. If the situation demands stability, I rotate strike. If the platform is set, I’m ready to attack from the first ball,” he said.Dube walked in to bat when India were 69 for 3 after nine overs and stabilised the innings with a 66-run knock off 31 balls.He also contributed with the ball, taking two wickets for 35 runs in three overs. For his all-round performance, he was named player of the match.

NEW DELHI: India and South Africa are bracing up for a mouth-watering Super 8 clash in the T20 World Cup in Ahmedabad on Sunday. With both sides having quite a few match winners, the game offers plenty of match-ups. One of them could possibly involve India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy and South Africa’s rising batting star Dewald Brevis.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Asked about the tantalising battle ahead after his team’s six-wicket win over the UAE here, Brevis, who usually bats at No.4, sounded dismissive of the threat posed by Chakravarthy. “He is a spin bowler, so I will play him like a spinner. Watch the ball and react to it,” he said.

Though Brevis didn’t have an impressive run during South African team’s limited overs tour of India last year — scoring just 69 runs at an average of 17 — he never got out to Chakravarthy in the four T20I games.Ever since he burst on to the scene with his exploits in the U-19 World Cup in 2022, where he finished as the tournament’s leading run-getter (506 runs from six games), Brevis has had to live with the moniker of ‘Baby AB’, as he is often compared to Proteas great AB de Villiers. It’s a tag he enjoys. “It’s always been a very big privilege for me to be compared with AB. But it’s never been any pressure for me. It’s always been an honour,” said Brevis.

Against India, Brevis will hope to summon the experience of playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. The South African team’s special consultant, Albie Morkel, has labelled the 22-year-old as the team’s “X-factor” ahead of the highly-anticipated Super 8 clash.After scores of 6, 23 and 21 in the first three matches of the T20 World Cup, Brevis showed glimpses of his potential with a brief, entertaining innings of 36 off 25 balls, studded with three glorious sixes, against UAE on Wednesday. While he got out with his side seven runs short of the target, Brevis was unfazed.“It’s just about being myself and enjoying the game, and usually, the best things happen after that. Being consistent in that performance is not always guaranteed. We all go through ups and downs. It’s just about being positive and backing your style of play,” he said.

NEW DELHI: Mohammad Amir recently compared Pakistan’s current cricket team with the side from the 1990s. He said the respect Pakistan once commanded has faded.“The Pakistan team in the 90s and the current team has a difference. India used to fear us back then, now they don’t take us seriously anymore. Now, they are not celebrating after taking our wickets and even after winning the match,” Amir said on a Pakistani TV channel.

His comments came after Pakistan lost to India by 61 runs in the T20 World Cup. After that match, Shahid Afridi called for major changes in the team. He said senior players should be dropped because of poor performances.“If I had to take a decision here, then I would drop Shaheen, Babar and Shadab as well,” Afridi said.Shadab Khan was unhappy with these remarks. He responded after a strong performance against Namibia, where he scored 36 runs and took three wickets. Pakistan won that match by 102 runs and reached the Super 8.Shadab reminded former players that they also never beat India in World Cups.“Our ex-cricketers have their own opinions. They have done well for Pakistan, and at the end of the day, they have also never defeated India in the World Cup,” Shadab said in Colombo. “We were the ones who defeated India in the 2021 World Cup. In World Cups, we have beaten India only once. Yes, they are legends, but they have never done anything remarkable against India in the World Cup.”He also said the team should focus on winning the tournament.“We are talking too much about one match. Yes, the obvious goal was to win that match against India as well. At the end of the day, our main aim is to win the World Cup. We are trusting our process, and we will get the results,” he added.Former cricketer Basit Ali also criticised Shadab’s comments.“In my opinion, Shadab Khan should not have said such things about his father-in-law. Saqlain Mushtaq had 10 bowlers like Shadab in his pocket,” Basit said. He also questioned Shadab’s role in the team and his performances.Basit then shared a past incident from a tour with Pakistan A.“I am going to reveal something that no one knows. I took the Pakistan A team to England. He used to be on the phone all the time. I had to snatch both his phones.”