Bangladesh A will take on India A today in the final of the Rising Stars Women's Asia Cup in Bangkok, with the match scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Both teams reached the final as unbeaten group champions. Bangladesh A, led by Fahima Khatun, defeated Pakistan A in the semifinal, while India A overcame Sri Lanka A to secure their spot in the title clash.

Bangladesh’s key strength throughout the tournament has been its spin bowling, with captain Fahima Khatun and Sanjida Akter Meghla consistently providing breakthroughs. However, the team’s batting remains a concern, as strong starts have not been sustained in the later overs. Meghla said the team’s progress was due to collective performance and expressed hope for another strong team effort in the final.

India A, which batted first only once in the tournament, has shown strength while chasing. Bangladesh A will aim to overcome its batting weaknesses and contain India’s batters to claim the title, especially after losing last year’s final to India A by 31 runs in Hong Kong.

Brazilian football star Neymar Jr. has suggested that he may retire from professional football by December this year. The forward, currently playing for his boyhood club Santos, said he is uncertain about his future and may decide to end his career when his contract expires at the end of the year. Neymar, who recently returned to the field after knee surgery in December, admitted that recurring injuries have made him reconsider his career path.

After an unremarkable stint with Saudi club Al Hilal, Neymar returned to Santos in early 2025 and renewed his contract through the end of the current year. However, his repeated injuries have kept him sidelined for much of the past two years, and he last played for Brazil in October 2023. The player acknowledged that his participation in the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada remains uncertain.

Neymar said his final decision will depend on how he feels later this year, emphasizing that he is taking his career one year at a time.

Defending champions India will face South Africa in the T20 World Cup Super Eights on Sunday, February 22, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The match is a repeat of the 2024 final, which India won by seven runs. Both teams advanced unbeaten through the group stage of the 2026 edition and are considered strong contenders for the semifinals. India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel said the team will focus on taking early wickets against South Africa’s in-form top order, while South Africa’s Quinton de Kock emphasized handling pressure as the key to victory.

India topped their group with four wins, including a 61-run victory over Pakistan and a 93-run win against Namibia. South Africa also dominated, defeating Canada, New Zealand, and the UAE, and surviving a Super Over against Afghanistan. Despite India’s strong record, inconsistency in their batting lineup, particularly opener Abhishek Sharma’s three consecutive ducks, has drawn attention. Morkel expressed confidence that Sharma will soon return to form.

South Africa, still seeking their first T20 World Cup title, have also announced a new squad with five uncapped players for a post-tournament tour of New Zealand in March.

The Super Eights opener between Pakistan and New Zealand at the 2026 T20 World Cup was abandoned due to persistent rain in Colombo. The match, scheduled at R Premadasa Stadium, was called off without a ball being bowled after Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and chose to bat first on Saturday. Despite efforts by more than 60 ground staff to protect the playing surface, the umpires officially abandoned the Group 2 match at 9:05pm local time (15:35 GMT).

The rain began immediately after the toss, and with forecasts predicting continued showers, both teams were forced to leave the field. Even a shortened five-over contest was not possible before the 10:16pm (16:46 GMT) cut-off time. As a result, both Pakistan and New Zealand were awarded one point each in the standings.

The tournament continues on Sunday, with co-host India facing South Africa in Ahmedabad for the first Group 1 match, while co-host Sri Lanka meets England in Group 2 action at Pallekele.

Manchester City secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday, driven by a first-half double from Nico O’Reilly. The 20-year-old midfielder struck in the 14th minute and restored City’s lead in the 27th with a header from Erling Haaland’s cross after Lewis Hall had equalised. The result reduced Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League to two points, with Pep Guardiola’s side now on 56 points from 27 games.

Arsenal, who drew with bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier in the week, face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday under increased pressure from City. Despite dominating early, City had to defend resolutely in the second half as Newcastle pressed for an equaliser. Haaland, though not on the scoresheet, contributed defensively and creatively, exemplifying the team’s determination.

O’Reilly expressed delight at his performance and the team’s progress, saying the win was vital to closing the gap and maintaining belief in their title ambitions. Elsewhere, Aston Villa drew 1-1 with Leeds United, Chelsea were held 1-1 by Burnley, Brighton’s James Milner broke the Premier League appearance record, and West Ham drew with Bournemouth.

French football legend Zinedine Zidane is reportedly close to fulfilling his long-held dream of coaching the France national team. According to French media reports, the French Football Federation (FFF) has reached a verbal agreement with Zidane for him to take charge after the 2026 World Cup. The change would mark a major shift in French football, with Zidane expected to succeed current coach Didier Deschamps once the tournament concludes.

Zidane, who led France to its first World Cup title in 1998 and another final in 2006, has also enjoyed a highly successful coaching career. He last managed Real Madrid in two separate stints between 2016–2018 and 2019–2021, winning 11 major trophies, including three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles. Despite receiving an offer to coach the United States national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Zidane reportedly declined it.

The reports suggest Zidane’s appointment could bring a new era for French football, combining his legacy as a player with his proven coaching success at the club level.

Australia concluded its T20 World Cup campaign with a dominant nine-wicket victory over Oman. Batting first, Oman were bowled out for just 104 runs in 16.2 overs, with Adam Zampa leading the attack by taking four wickets for 21 runs. In reply, Australia chased down the target in only 9.4 overs, finishing at 108 for 1. Captain Mitchell Marsh remained unbeaten on 64 off 33 balls, while Travis Head scored 32 from 19 deliveries before being dismissed just 13 runs short of the target.

The win equalled the record for the fastest successful run chase in T20 World Cup history, matching England’s 9.4-over chase against the United States in the 2024 edition. Zampa’s bowling performance earned him the Player of the Match award, as Australia’s bowlers set up the victory with disciplined and aggressive spells.

This result marked a strong finish for Australia in the tournament, highlighting their batting depth and bowling strength as they exited the competition on a high note.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced that Pakistan will tour Bangladesh in March 2026 for a three-match One Day International (ODI) series. According to the schedule released on February 20, the Pakistan team will arrive in Dhaka on March 9. All three matches will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, starting at 2:15 p.m. each day. The series marks Bangladesh’s return to international cricket after a long break, following their absence from the T20 World Cup.

The BCB also confirmed that Bangladesh will play a total of nine bilateral series in 2026. After the home series against Pakistan, the team is scheduled to tour Pakistan in April once the Pakistan Super League concludes. Statistical records show that Pakistan won the last ODI series between the two sides 2–1, while Bangladesh were whitewashed 3–0 in their previous tour of Pakistan.

Bangladesh will aim for a strong comeback on home soil after their extended break from competitive cricket.

Bangladesh cricketer Saif Hasan has said that missing the World Cup was one of the hardest moments of his career. Although he was selected for the national squad for the first time, he did not play in the tournament after choosing not to travel to India due to security concerns. On February 20, 2026, Saif shared his feelings in a Facebook post, describing the pain of missing his first World Cup as deeply emotional and difficult to move past.

In his post, Saif wrote that playing in a World Cup had been a lifelong dream built on years of hard work and sacrifice. He expressed faith that better things are planned by God and thanked those who supported him mentally during the difficult period. The cricketer emphasized that recovering from the disappointment was not easy but credited his supporters for helping him stay strong.

The incident highlights the emotional toll on athletes when personal safety concerns prevent them from fulfilling career milestones such as representing their country on the world stage.

Bangladesh Women’s ‘A’ team advanced to the final of the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament after a commanding 54-run victory over Pakistan Women’s ‘A’ team in Bangkok. Batting first, Bangladesh posted 110 for 8 in 20 overs, with captain Fahima Khatun leading from the front by scoring an unbeaten 40 off 32 balls. Despite regular wickets falling at the other end, she anchored the innings effectively, while Sharmin Sultana contributed 15 runs.

Pakistan struggled in their chase, losing early wickets and managing only 21 runs in the first six overs. Fahima Khatun turned the match decisively with the ball, taking two wickets for just four runs in her first two overs. Pakistan’s batting collapsed to 56 all out in 16.4 overs, with Sanjida Akter emerging as the most successful bowler, claiming three wickets for six runs.

Fahima Khatun was named player of the match for her all-round performance. Bangladesh Women’s ‘A’ team will face India Women’s ‘A’ team in the tournament final on Sunday.

Afghanistan concluded its T20 World Cup journey with consecutive victories, defeating Canada by 82 runs in Chennai on February 20, 2026. After losing the toss, Afghanistan batted first and posted 200 runs, marking the first time the team reached this milestone in T20 World Cup history. Opener Ibrahim Zadran led the innings with an unbeaten 95 off 56 balls, the highest individual score by an Afghan batsman in the tournament. Rahmanullah Gurbaz added 30 runs, while Sediqullah Atal contributed 44 off 32 balls.

In reply, Canada struggled to build momentum, losing five wickets for 48 runs within nine overs and finishing at 118 for eight after 20 overs. Harsh Thakar top-scored for Canada with 30 runs, while previous match centurion Yuvraj Samra managed only 17. Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi delivered his career-best bowling performance, taking four wickets for just seven runs in four overs. Captain Rashid Khan also claimed two wickets for 19 runs.

Although Afghanistan had already been eliminated from the tournament, the team ended on a high note with two consecutive wins, providing a measure of consolation before returning home.

Pakistan and New Zealand will open the Super Eights stage of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Saturday, February 21, at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Both teams, considered dark horses for the title, are looking to make a strong start in this crucial phase of the tournament. Pakistan enter the match after a commanding 102-run victory over Namibia that secured their Super Eights berth, while New Zealand finished their group stage with an eight-wicket win against Canada.

Pakistan’s Shadab Khan expressed confidence that his side could go on to win the World Cup, calling their recent performance a sign of progress after earlier setbacks, including a heavy defeat to India. He cautioned, however, that the Super Eights will be tougher, with England and co-hosts Sri Lanka also awaiting Pakistan. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner is expected to return after illness, with spin likely to play a key role in Colombo’s conditions.

This will be the 50th T20 meeting between the two nations, with Pakistan narrowly leading the head-to-head record 24–23. Both sides hope to establish early momentum in their pursuit of the title.

The T20 World Cup 2026 match between Australia and Oman will be broadcast live on February 20, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. on T Sports, Nagorik TV, and Star Sports. The fixture headlines a busy evening of televised sports, offering cricket fans a major international contest.

Alongside the cricket action, several European football leagues will also feature live matches. In Spain’s La Liga, Athletic Bilbao will host Elche at 2:00 a.m., while Italy’s Serie A will see Sassuolo face Verona at 1:45 a.m. The Bundesliga match between Mainz and Hamburg will air at 1:30 a.m., and France’s Ligue 1 will feature Brest against Olympique Marseille at 1:45 a.m. These matches will be available on platforms including Fancode, Bet365, and Tapmad.

The lineup highlights a packed night for sports enthusiasts, with simultaneous coverage of major cricket and football events across multiple networks.

Bangladesh women’s football team coach Peter Butler sharply criticized the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) for poor preparation and internal mismanagement before the country’s first-ever appearance in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Speaking at a press conference at the BFF headquarters on Thursday, hours before the team’s scheduled departure for Australia, the English coach questioned the football knowledge and professionalism of federation officials. Butler said the team’s planning had failed and accused some officials of spreading misinformation in the media.

He expressed frustration that the women’s team had not played any preparation matches since December, blaming the BFF for prioritizing domestic league fixtures over national team readiness. Proposed matches against the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand were disrupted due to scheduling conflicts. BFF women’s committee head Mahfuza Akter Kiron admitted that preparations could have been better and said more training or practice matches abroad would have improved readiness.

Bangladesh will face China, North Korea, and Uzbekistan in the group stage of the tournament in Australia, starting on March 3 in Sydney.

Arsenal were denied a crucial Premier League victory after Wolverhampton Wanderers secured a dramatic 2–2 draw on February 19, 2026. Teenage debutant Tom Edozie scored in added time to rescue a point for Wolves, leaving Mikel Arteta’s team frustrated. Arsenal had led 2–0 through goals from Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapié, but Hugo Bueno’s strike and Edozie’s late effort changed the outcome. With 58 points from 27 matches, Arsenal remain top, though their lead over Manchester City—who have played one more game—has narrowed to five points.

Arteta admitted disappointment after the match, saying his team failed to maintain their level in the second half and missed key moments. Saka echoed that view, noting the difference in performance between the two halves. For Wolves, who sit near the bottom with just 10 points from 27 matches, the draw was a morale boost and a sign of resilience.

The result means Arsenal have won only three of their last eight league games, increasing pressure in their pursuit of the title.