Category: Sports

With rain threatening to disrupt Sunday’s high-voltage India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup encounter in Colombo, fans are asking a crucial question: is there a reserve day if the match gets washed out?

The answer is no. The ICC does not schedule reserve days for group-stage matches in the T20 World Cup according to ESPNCricinfo.

If rain forces a complete washout on Sunday evening, both teams will share the points equally, receiving one point each. 

India and Pakistan currently sit level on four points after playing two games each. However, India lead the group due to a superior net run rate of 3.050 compared to Pakistan’s 0.932. A washout would maintain that advantage while giving both teams a point, but it would deny either side the opportunity to pull ahead with a win.

The lack of a reserve day puts enormous pressure on getting the match completed on Sunday itself, even if rain causes delays or forces a shortened game.

The Sri Lanka Department of Meteorology has warned of a low-pressure system developing in the Bay of Bengal, indicating a high risk of rain that could disrupt the marquee contest. Weather forecasts for the Khettarama area of Colombo, where the R Premadasa Stadium sits, show a 50 to 70 percent chance of rain on Sunday afternoon.

With the match scheduled to begin at 7pm local time, some weather models suggest heavy thundershowers could arrive in the hours before the toss. While some forecasts indicate a slight clearing trend after 8pm, isolated showers remain possible through the night.

The only matches in ICC tournaments that typically have reserve days are knockout fixtures such as semi-finals and finals. Group-stage games follow a straightforward points-sharing system in case of abandonment.

The weather in Colombo has otherwise been largely dry, making any significant rainfall unusual for this time of year. None of the T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka have been affected by bad weather so far.

The Premadasa Stadium does have a sophisticated drainage system and enough covers to protect the entire playing area, which gives ground staff a fighting chance to get the match on even if rain does arrive. Under normal conditions, the ground typically becomes ready for play within 45 to 60 minutes after heavy rain stops.

Both teams will be hoping the weather holds, knowing that unlike knockout matches, there is no second chance if Sunday’s game falls victim to the elements.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has branded Indian opener Abhishek Sharma as “just a slogger” in a blunt assessment of the young batsman’s technique ahead of Sunday’s crucial Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 encounter between the arch-rivals.

Speaking on TV show, Amir pulled no punches in his critique of Sharma’s high-risk batting approach.

“From what I have seen of him so far, in my opinion, if I’m being completely honest, he looks like a slogger to me. He just tries to hit every ball. If it connects, it connects. But most of the time, the chances of failure are higher,” Amir said.

The left-arm pacer pointed to Sharma’s inconsistent record as evidence of his technical limitations.

“You must have noticed that he might play eight innings and score in only one of them, while in the others he gets 10, 15, 0, 20. The way he swings the bat, there doesn’t seem to be much technique. It’s more like, ‘Just give me the ball and I’ll swing.’ Technically, I haven’t found him very sound,” he added.

Amir acknowledged that Sharma can be destructive on his day but stressed the dangers of such an unpredictable style.

“I’m giving an honest opinion. I’m also saying that on the day it comes off, it really comes off, and he can hurt any team. But his game is very high risk. Secondly, he even struggles against a good slower ball,” he said.

The former Pakistan international set clear conditions for when he would consider Sharma a complete batsman.

“I’ll consider him a proper batsman when I see him handling even slight swing properly, tackling it well, and middling his shots consistently. Then I’ll say yes, he’s a complete batsman. For now, it’s just, if it connects, it connects,” Amir explained.

Former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper Rashid Latif joined the discussion, offering his own technical analysis of Sharma’s batting.

“Apart from mostly domestic cricket, he has mainly performed in T20Is. His upper body doesn’t come forward much. He gives himself a lot of room. That’s why he looks like a slogger, because he’s ready to hit every ball,” Latif observed.

Latif suggested that Sharma’s aggressive style could create problems when defensive techniques become necessary.

“When he tries to play a defensive shot, he will face problems. He doesn’t get into the proper line, so the reason he’s been successful is that he’s been focusing on just one thing. He hasn’t really worked on his defence,” he added.

Despite the criticism, Sharma’s T20 numbers tell a story of explosive success. The left-handed opener has scored 1,297 runs in 39 matches at a blistering strike rate of 194.95, including eight half-centuries and two centuries.

Against Pakistan specifically, he has been even more destructive, scoring 110 runs in three matches at a strike rate of 189.65 with one half-century.

However, his tournament so far has been disappointing. Sharma fell for a first-ball duck against the USA, missed the Namibia match due to illness, and now faces uncertainty over his availability for the Pakistan clash.

Former Pakistan pacer Tanvir Ahmed has launched a scathing counterattack on Harbhajan Singh, accusing the Indian spinner of hypocrisy and double standards after their public feud spiraled into a full-blown war of words.

The conflict began when Tanvir criticised Harbhajan over an interview with Pakistani cricketer Usman Tariq during the ILT20. Harbhajan responded with a strongly-worded video where he called Tanvir a “tuccha insaan” (petty human being) and used language that many considered below the belt.

Not one to back down, Tanvir released a fresh video hitting back at the former India off-spinner with pointed accusations about his professional conduct and personal integrity.

“You say you’re doing commentary, but then you ask the broadcasters that you will ignore Usman Tariq. Tu dogla aadmi hai (You’re a two-faced person),” Tanvir said in the video that has since gone viral on social media.

The former Pakistan international, who played five Tests, two ODIs and one T20I, questioned Harbhajan’s contradictory stance toward Pakistani cricketers.

“You tell Indian players not to shake hands with Pakistani players, yet you sit in commentary with Pakistani players. If you call yourself an honest man, you should have clearly said that you wouldn’t stand with him, talk to him, or shake hands with him. Either don’t do commentary with Pakistani players, or if you choose to do it, then be prepared to hear such criticism,” he added.

Tanvir went on to challenge Harbhajan’s claim about his lack of manners, turning the accusation back on the Indian legend.

“You’re accusing me of having no manners, but first look at yourself. You’ve played more cricket than I have, now tell me about your own manners. The words you used for me in your video, I have never spoken like that about you,” Tanvir stated.

The Pakistani cricketer made it clear he was showing restraint this time but warned Harbhajan against repeating his harsh language in future.

“And the things you said about me at the end of your video, this time I’m showing restraint and respect. But if you repeat this again, I won’t stay quiet. I’ll respond strongly and show you exactly what manners I have, or don’t have. Keep that in mind,” he warned.

Former Indian cricket umpire Anil Chaudhary has provided clarity on the legality of Pakistani bowler Usman Tariq’s distinctive bowling action, stating that batters cannot legitimately pull away as long as the Pakistani spinner maintains his consistent pause.

Speaking during an interview after a viral video showed him professionally shutting down speculation regarding Tariq’s action, Chaudhary addressed the controversy surrounding the Pakistani bowler’s mid-delivery pause and explained the conditions under which it would be considered illegal.

When asked whether the extended pause violates cricket laws, Chaudhary explained the distinction between routine action and deliberate deception.

“Because all his deliveries have the same action and the same pause, it has become his routine action. But if he does something different, increases the pause in a very obvious way, or suddenly bowls without a pause, that would be deception. In that case, the batter should pull away and not receive the ball. Then the umpire will decide whether this is manipulation of his routine action,” Chaudhary said.

The umpire confirmed that Tariq’s current approach, including his run-up, did not violate any laws of the game.

He also revealed that broadcasters measured Tariq’s pause at just slightly over one second. “If he pauses for around 2.5 to 3 seconds, then umpires could raise an objection,” Chaudhary noted, emphasising that as long as Tariq maintained his current rhythm, everything remained within the rules. 

“For now, as long as he is pausing the same way he currently does, the matter is clear and everything is fine. Nothing looks suspicious yet. If the batter pulls out again and again, then the umpires will intervene and ask the batter to not do it otherwise they would themselves be booked for wasting time.”

It may be noted that the umpire’s comments appear to counter an earlier suggestion by former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who proposed that batters could exploit the pause by pulling away.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin clarified that Tariq’s pause was legal since it formed part of his established bowling action.

However, he then suggested a controversial tactic for batters to employ against the Pakistani spinner.

“There is one thing I want to see… if dares to do it… if Tariq pauses before delivery, the batter has the right to move away. The batter can say, ‘I don’t know when the ball is coming, so I moved away’,” Ashwin said.

He predicted this would create significant pressure on both Tariq and the umpires.

“That will be an interesting case and a huge headache for the umpire. I’m not against anyone. If I was there, I would have done it. I would have done everything that is within the laws of the game,” he added.

The former Indian spinner suggested that such tactics could force Tariq to alter his action mid-match. “If the batter starts withdrawing, imagine the pressure on Tariq. He might have to alter his action in the middle of the game. Pakistan’s trump card might turn out to be nothing,” Ashwin added.

“But I doubt any of the Indian batters have it in them to pull it off. I’m not sure,” he concluded.

Former West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite has condemned false statements attributed to him regarding Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq’s bowling action, which circulated widely on social media through Indian-origin accounts.

A fabricated quote linked to Brathwaite’s name spread across social media platforms, claiming the former cricketer passed the controversial statement while commentating during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match between England and West Indies. 

The fake statement suggested Brathwaite advised India to bat first in their upcoming fixture against Pakistan on February 15 and instructed them to retaliate if Tariq “chucks.”

“India should bat first on 15th and see what Usman Tariq does. If he chucks, don’t step back. Tell your guns to chuck too. Give what you get. As simple as that,” an account with the username RCB_HIvv3 quoted Brathwaite as saying.

The post caught Brathwaite’s attention, prompting an immediate response from the commentator who firmly denied making any such statement.

“I’ll be reporting this. Where are the quotes? When did you say this?” Brathwaite questioned in his reply.

The former West Indies captain, clearly frustrated by the orchestrated misinformation campaign, issued a stern warning to the user against deleting the false post. The post has since been removed from the platform.

“This is disingenuous, false and nasty of you,” Brathwaite wrote, calling out the user directly.

Taking the matter further, Brathwaite tagged Twitter owner Elon Musk, demanding action against accounts spreading fabricated quotes. 

“Your platform needs to start demonetizing people that post fake quotes and attribute them to public figures. They can post what they want, get called out and take down the post. 296k people have seen this and formed an opinion of a baseless claim,” he stated.

Many Indians including some so-called cricket analysts, have been spreading propaganda targeting Usman Tariq, who has represented Pakistan in four T20 Internationals. The spinner has faced persistent scrutiny over his bowling action despite repeatedly clearing official assessments and explainations about his rare medical condition.

Tariq has been reported for a suspect bowling action twice during his early career but received clearance on both occasions. Last year, an ICC-accredited biomechanics lab gave him approval after examining 24 deliveries.

According to cricket’s laws, a bowler’s arm can bend up to a maximum of 15 degrees while bowling. Tariq, known for his slingy action, maintains his delivery falls well within these limits due to the unique structure of his elbow.

“There are two corners on my elbow which make it hard for me to straighten fully,” Tariq explained previously.

“As you can see from history, whenever spinners faced allegations of chucking, they went to the lab, tried to modify their action, and worked on the correct degree of flexion. That sometimes confuses spectators. I have undergone two official tests in Pakistan, and my action was cleared. Unlike others, I didn’t have to change anything. I was confident because I know I am not throwing,” the spinner stated.

The false narrative surrounding Tariq’s bowling action appears to intensify ahead of major Pakistan-India encounter on February 15, with coordinated social media campaigns attempting to undermine his legitimacy as a bowler.

Former Pakistan captain Misbah ul Haq faced an emotionally challenging situation during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) player auction when his son Faham ul Haq went unsold while he sat on the Peshawar Zalmi selection panel.

Misbah served as part of the Zalmi auction team responsible for selecting players. His son Faham, a talented cricketer, entered the auction pool with a base price of 60 lakhs but failed to attract any bids from the franchises.

Reporters questioned Misbah about the difficulty of witnessing his son’s name pass without selection while sitting among the decision-makers.

“This is one of those questions where you have to pause and stay quiet. Obviously, if someone is talented and performing, whichever team it is will notice. When his time comes, he will play. It is very difficult for a parent, extremely difficult, to reach a stage like this and watch everything unfold. At that moment, you try to stay neutral and avoid making decisions based on emotions,” Misbah responded.

The former Test captain emphasized his belief in merit-based selection and earning opportunities through performance rather than relationships. “But I believe that when you perform, your time comes. You earn things through your performances, and that is when it truly feels rewarding,” he added.

Many observers questioned why Misbah did not use his position with Zalmi to secure his son’s selection at the modest base price. 

The auction, held on Wednesday in Lahore, marked the first of its kind for the PSL as the league expanded to eight teams with the addition of Hyderabad Houston Kingsman and Sialkot Stallionz.

A Pakistani cricket fan confronted an Australian social media content creator at the T20 World Cup venue after videos emerged of the Australian mocking Pakistan bowler Usman Tariq’s bowling action.

Saud Zohaib Muhammad approached Jake Jeakings at the ground following Pakistan’s match against USA, where a viral video showed Jeakings and others mimicking Tariq’s bowling style in a mocking manner.

The encounter, captured on video, began cordially before taking a heated turn. Muhammad introduced himself as a fan from Pakistan and mentioned he had a gift for Jeakings.

“Oh, what’s the gift? Let me get some sandpaper,” Jeakings responded, referencing the infamous ball-tampering scandal involving the Australian cricket team.

Muhammad then produced sandpaper, which immediately provoked a physical reaction from Jeakings. The Australian began pushing Muhammad, telling him not to approach him like that. Muhammad responded by asking him to stop pushing and to stop trolling Pakistani players.

In a follow-up video addressing the incident, Muhammad explained his actions and motivations.

“So yesterday, the way I caught Jack, that Australian fan, he always talks like this about Pakistani players, especially Usman Tariq. Brother, first learn about his background. Properly research his story first, then make videos. After that, get as many views as you want. But without proof, you cannot troll someone, you cannot mock someone,” Muhammad said.

He defended his decision to use the sandpaper as a symbolic gesture. “Anyway, I showed him the mirror. Last night, by showing him sandpaper. And now he’ll be calm. Honestly, when I showed him the sandpaper, he completely lost it. I’m telling the truth. He got furious and started arguing, even wanted to fight with me. I don’t care about that at all, because my only purpose was to show him the mirror, and I showed him the mirror.”

Despite the confrontation, Muhammad struck a conciliatory tone about future interactions. “Let’s see, the guy actually seems good. We’ll meet him again. This time, I’ll explain things to him with love and respect,” he added.

Tariq’s bowling action is distinctive as he follows a normal run-up with a pause at release, almost coming to a complete stop before delivering side-arm, slinging off-breaks.

Many cricket analysts, particularly Indian former off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, declared his action legal, saying that while he doesn’t understand the pause, the action itself is entirely legal because it is Tariq’s natural bowling motion.

Usman has been reported twice before, first during the 2024 PSL and again in the next edition, however, he was cleared both times.

Pakistani star batter Babar Azam faces an unusual challenge from his former teammates as Pakistan prepares for their crucial T20 World Cup encounter against India in Colombo on February 15.

During a TV program, Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Amir set specific conditions they would fulfill if Babar delivers a match-winning performance against India. The stakes came with precise numbers attached to the former captain’s potential innings.

Shehzad promised to provide free food for the entire crowd gathered at the show if Babar plays a decisive knock against India. “The crowd coordinator won’t have to get food that day. The whole team will get food,” Shehzad said during the program.

The conversation took an interesting turn when the show’s anchor, speaking on behalf of Amir, raised the bar further. The anchor suggested that the left-arm pacer would reverse his retirement decision if Babar scores big with a strike rate of 160. “If Babar, let’s say, with a strike rate of 160… Yes. Keep it like that. If he plays innings with a strike rate of 160 and helps Pakistan win, Amir will take his retirement back. If he plays big innings with a strike rate of 160, then,” the anchor stated.

Shehzad intervened to adjust the conditions to more realistic terms. “Let’s be realistic. If he plays a match-winning inning with a strike rate of 150 and scores 50 plus, then all these conditions are on,” the former opener proposed. Amir quickly agreed to the revised challenge.

Former cricketer Rashid Latif added a humorous twist to the discussion, questioning whether Babar typically bats long enough to meet those conditions. “He never bats that long anyway, so change all these bets,” Latif remarked, drawing laughter from everyone present.

Babar’s record against India in T20 Internationals shows five matches with 105 runs at an average of 26.25 and a strike rate of 128.05. 

His best performance came in the 2021 World Cup when he scored 68 runs, helping Pakistan secure their only World Cup victory over India across both ODI and T20I formats with a 10-wicket win.

Indian opener Abhishek Sharma will sit out at least one or two matches after a stomach infection landed him in hospital for several days, captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed ahead of the clash against Namibia.

As per the details, food poisoning has derailed Abhishek’s campaign at a crucial juncture as he also struggled in India’s opening match against USA, where he fell for a duck after getting dismissed on the first ball.

While the team management has called up Sanju Samson to replace Abhishek at the top of the order alongside Ishan Kishan for the match, the youngster’s appearance against Pakistan on Feb 15 is also not yet confirmed.

“Abhishek is still not fine, he will miss a game or two. Sanju comes in, similar batter, explosive. Bumrah comes in for Siraj,” Yadav said at the toss on Thursday.

Meanwhile, uncertainty also faces the much-anticipated clash between Pakistan and India due to weather concerns, with forecasts predicting thundery showers and rain throughout the day.

Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah returned to the playing XI after recovering from a brief fever. According to Indian media reports, the star pacer dealt with the illness recently but has now fully recovered and is available for selection.