Australia has been eliminated from the T20 World Cup group stage for the first time after Zimbabwe secured a spot in the Super Eight. The decisive moment came when the Zimbabwe-Ireland match in Pallekele was abandoned due to rain, resulting in both teams sharing points. That single point allowed Zimbabwe to surpass Australia and qualify for the next round. Australia’s earlier defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka had already placed their qualification hopes in jeopardy, leaving players and fans waiting in their hotel rooms for a favorable outcome that never came.

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza expressed that the team is not content with merely reaching the Super Eight. Speaking after the rain-affected match, he described the qualification as a small achievement and emphasized their focus on adapting to different conditions and improving performance. Raza also highlighted the motivation the team draws from their supporters and reaffirmed their commitment to representing Zimbabwe proudly.

The result marks a historic milestone for Zimbabwe and a disappointing early exit for Australia, reshaping the tournament’s competitive landscape.

New Zealand confirmed their place in the Super Eight stage after defeating Canada by eight wickets in a T20 World Cup Group D match on February 17, 2026. Batting first, Canada posted 173 for 4, led by opener Yuvraj Samra’s maiden T20 century of 110 runs off 65 balls and captain Dilpreet Bajwa’s 36 from 39 deliveries. In reply, New Zealand chased down the 174-run target in just 15.1 overs with 29 balls to spare.

After losing two early wickets for 30 runs, New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips guided the team to victory with an unbroken 146-run partnership off 73 balls. Ravindra remained unbeaten on 59 from 39 balls, while Phillips scored 76 not out from 36 balls, hitting four fours and six sixes. Phillips was named player of the match for his explosive innings. For Canada, Saad Bin Zafar took one wicket for 29 runs, and Jacob Duffy claimed one for 25 for New Zealand.

With this result, New Zealand became the second team from Group D to qualify for the Super Eight, joining South Africa.

Arsenal delivered a dominant performance in the FA Cup fourth round, defeating third-division side Wigan Athletic 4-0 at home. The London club sealed the result within just 16 minutes, scoring all four goals between the 11th and 27th minutes. With this victory, Arsenal advanced comfortably to the next round and kept their pursuit of titles alive in all four competitions this season.

Midfielder Eberechi Eze provided assists for the first two goals, finished by Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli. Wigan’s defender Jack Hunt then inadvertently scored an own goal, before Gabriel Jesus added the fourth to end any remaining suspense. Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga made several key saves to preserve a clean sheet, notably stopping efforts from Joe Taylor and Rafael Rodriguez. Although Victor Gyökeres struck the crossbar in the second half, Arsenal’s first-half surge proved decisive.

The win marked the first time since the 1992–93 season that Arsenal scored four goals within the opening 30 minutes of an FA Cup match.

England defeated Italy by 24 runs in a high-scoring Group C match on February 16, 2026. Batting first, England posted 202 for 7 in 20 overs, led by Will Jacks’ unbeaten 53 off 22 balls. Tom Banton added 30, while Sam Curran contributed 25 from 19 deliveries. For Italy, Grant Stewart and Krishan Kalugamage took two wickets each.

Chasing 203, Italy stumbled early, losing three wickets for 22 runs. However, Justin Mosca’s 43 off 34 balls steadied the innings before Ben Menetti’s 60 from 25 balls and Grant Stewart’s 45 from 23 nearly turned the game around. Despite their efforts, Italy were bowled out for 178. England’s Jamie Overton and Sam Curran each claimed three wickets, sealing the win.

With this result, England became the second team from Group C to qualify for the Super Eight stage, while Italy earned praise for their competitive batting display against a strong English bowling attack.

Afghanistan defeated the United Arab Emirates by five wickets in a T20 World Cup match held in Delhi on February 16, 2026. The match was marked by Rashid Khan’s historic achievement of becoming the first cricketer to claim 700 wickets in T20 cricket. Rashid reached the milestone when he dismissed UAE batter Muhammad Arfan, finishing with one wicket for 24 runs. Afghanistan successfully chased down UAE’s total of 160 for nine, reaching 162 for five in 19.2 overs.

UAE’s innings was anchored by Shoaib Khan’s 68 and Alishan Sharafu’s 40, while Azmatullah Omarzai starred with the ball for Afghanistan, taking four wickets for 15 runs. In reply, Afghanistan lost an early wicket but were steadied by Ibrahim Zadran’s 53 off 41 balls. Omarzai later contributed an unbeaten 40 off 21 balls to secure victory with four balls remaining. Junaid Siddique and Muhammad Arfan took two wickets each for UAE.

Omarzai was named player of the match for his all-round performance, as Afghanistan celebrated both the win and Rashid Khan’s record-breaking feat.

Bangladesh A women’s cricket team advanced to the semifinals of the Rising Stars Asia Cup after a hard-fought three-wicket victory against hosts Thailand in Bangkok. Thailand batted first and were bowled out for 103 runs, with Fahima Khatun and Sharifa Khatun taking two wickets each for Bangladesh. In reply, Bangladesh reached the target with one ball to spare, sealing their place in the semifinals from Group B.

Thailand’s innings was anchored by Nannapat Koncharoenkai’s 34 and Nannthan Chantam’s 24, while Onnicha Kamchomphu and Phannita Maya added quick runs late in the innings. Bangladesh’s chase was shaky, losing four wickets for 54 runs. Opener Shamima Sultana scored 26, while Lata Mondal’s 30 and Farzana Yasmin’s late 23 off 15 balls guided the team to victory.

With this win, Bangladesh A confirmed their semifinal berth and will face Malaysia in their final group-stage match, aiming to finish the group phase unbeaten.

Mark Bonwick, 62, who served as Arsenal’s kitman for 22 years, claims he was dismissed after criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza. He said he was fired following a December 2024 social media post condemning Israel’s military operations. In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Bonwick stated that his remarks were political expressions, not hate speech or discrimination. He is now pursuing legal action against the club, with mediation expected in June and the process possibly extending to 2028.

Bonwick argued that his comments were part of a broader call to speak out against injustice, comparing them to global discussions on apartheid in South Africa and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He accused the media of emphasizing antisemitism allegations instead of the political context of his statements. Bonwick insisted there was no antisemitic content in his post and noted that neither police nor the Football Association had contacted him.

He cited the case of Bristol University academic David Miller, arguing that the same standards of free political expression should apply to everyone, regardless of profession.

Cristiano Ronaldo returned to action for Al Nassr after ending his self-imposed strike, leading his team to a 2-0 victory over Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League. Wearing the captain’s armband, the Portuguese forward scored just 18 minutes into his comeback match, marking his 18th goal of the season. Al Yahya added a second goal in the 78th minute, helping Al Nassr maintain second place in the league standings.

Ronaldo had missed two matches by choice amid frustration with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Reports indicated he was unhappy with PIF’s increasing investment in rival club Al Hilal, which he felt disadvantaged Al Nassr. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also had concerns about his club’s management structure.

According to ESPN, PIF later accepted Ronaldo’s main demands, including settling Al Nassr’s outstanding payments and restoring management autonomy to the club’s top executives. The Saudi league authorities had earlier warned Ronaldo before his return to play.

India advanced to the Super Eight stage after a commanding 61-run victory over Pakistan, securing the top position in Group A. Batting first, India posted a competitive total of 176 runs despite losing an early wicket. Ishan Kishan led the innings with a blistering 77 off 40 balls, supported by Tilak Varma’s 25 and captain Suryakumar Yadav’s 32. Late contributions from Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube helped India reach a strong total.

Pakistan’s chase faltered from the start, collapsing to 13 for 3 in the second over after Jasprit Bumrah struck twice. Captain Babar Azam’s 34 and Usman Khan’s 44 offered brief resistance, but the team was bowled out for 114. India’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance, with six of seven bowlers taking wickets. Bumrah and Hardik Pandya claimed two each in pace, while Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy matched that in spin.

The result marked India’s third consecutive win, confirming their Super Eight qualification and reinforcing their position as strong title contenders.

Manchester City secured a 2–0 victory over lower-league side Salford City in the FA Cup fourth round at Etihad Stadium, but coach Pep Guardiola expressed dissatisfaction with his team’s performance. The Premier League champions took an early lead through an own goal by Alfie Dorrington and sealed the win late with Marc Guehi’s first goal for the club. Despite the result, Guardiola said his players failed to exploit the opponent’s weaknesses and described the match as frustrating.

In another fixture, Liverpool advanced to the fifth round with a commanding 3–0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. Curtis Jones ended his long goal drought with the opener, followed by a strike from in-form Dominik Szoboszlai. Mohamed Salah converted a late penalty to complete the victory. The result reinforced Liverpool’s confidence and underlined their status as strong contenders in the competition.

Both clubs now progress in England’s prestigious domestic tournament, with Liverpool’s convincing form contrasting Guardiola’s concerns over City’s attacking sharpness.

The much-anticipated India–Pakistan T20 World Cup match, scheduled for this evening, faces fresh uncertainty due to adverse weather conditions. The game is set to begin at 7:30 p.m., with the toss planned for 7 p.m., but the Sri Lankan Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall during that period. A low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal has created a 70 percent chance of rain, raising concerns about whether the match can start on time.

According to forecasts, moderate rain may begin between 6 and 7 p.m., intensifying around the toss. Although the rain may ease later, the time required to make the field playable remains uncertain. If the rain persists, the match could be delayed, shortened, or even abandoned, in which case both teams would receive one point each. Both India and Pakistan currently have four points from two wins, with India leading on net run rate.

Fan excitement remains high, with flight and hotel prices to Colombo soaring. However, all eyes are now on the skies as cricket fans hope the weather allows the marquee contest to proceed as planned.

Former Bangladesh cricket captain Tamim Iqbal has dismissed as baseless the widespread rumors that he is set to join national politics or take a ministerial post under a possible BNP-led government. Reports circulating on social media claimed that Tamim might be appointed as a technocrat minister, but he clarified on his verified Facebook page that no such proposal had been made to him. He described the discussions about his political involvement as completely false and urged everyone to refrain from spreading unfounded news.

The speculation gained traction after Tamim appeared at campaign events for several BNP candidates ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election, in which the party secured an absolute majority and began preparing to form a government. His name was particularly linked on social media with the position of state minister for youth and sports. Similar rumors also surrounded former national football captain Aminul Islam, who contested from Dhaka-16 but lost and challenged the result.

Although Tamim has denied any political ambitions for now, his name entering political discussions has sparked fresh curiosity among sports fans and the general public.

The ongoing T20 World Cup reaches a fever pitch as India and Pakistan meet today at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium. Both teams have won their first two matches, making this encounter decisive for securing a Super Eight berth. The match follows earlier tensions after Pakistan initially announced a boycott in support of Bangladesh’s non-participation, prompting ICC intervention and a subsequent agreement to proceed as scheduled.

India, the defending champion, enters the match in strong form after defeating the United States and Namibia. Pakistan also arrives unbeaten, with victories over the Netherlands and the United States. India may miss opener Abhishek Sharma due to illness, while Pakistan reports no injuries. Key duels include Kuldeep Yadav versus Babar Azam and Hardik Pandya against Usman Tariq, whose bowling action has drawn attention.

Historically, India has dominated this rivalry, winning 13 of 16 T20 meetings and seven of eight in World Cups. The match carries not only sporting significance but also symbolic weight, reflecting the enduring intensity of the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is set to begin the process of bringing back Shakib Al Hasan to the national team starting today, confirmed BCB director Asif Akbar. He said that Shakib’s legal and financial paperwork, including case documents, has been prepared by his lawyer and will be submitted to the government on Sunday. Although the exact date of Shakib’s return remains uncertain, Akbar confirmed that communication with the player is ongoing and the formal process is now underway.

Akbar added that the BCB has requested the government to consider Shakib’s case, emphasizing that if selectors deem him eligible, he will be allowed to play. Following the 13th national parliamentary election, a political government is set to assume office, but Akbar expressed confidence that this transition will not complicate Shakib’s return. He also noted that statements from BNP leaders, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, indicate a flexible stance toward keeping politics out of sports and cultural activities.

The BCB’s latest board meeting had already discussed Shakib’s possible return, and today’s developments mark the formal start of that process.

Former cricketer Michael Clarke has predicted that India will defeat Pakistan in their upcoming World Cup match in Sri Lanka. Writing on February 15, 2026, Clarke said India are in top form while Pakistan are struggling to find consistency. He noted that Pakistan have overcome some off-field issues but argued that these would not help them overcome India’s dominance. According to Clarke, Pakistan can only win if India make mistakes.

Clarke emphasized that the match will not be easy because playing conditions in Sri Lanka differ from those in India. He expects the pitch to offer more turn and slower pace, making high scores unlikely. A total of around 190 runs could be a challenging target, he suggested. The buildup to the India-Pakistan encounter has intensified public interest, with discussions about the match dominating World Cup coverage.

Clarke added that both teams have previously won against each other, but India’s current form gives them the upper hand. The heightened anticipation surrounding the fixture has made it one of the most talked-about contests of the tournament.