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Abhishek castled by Aryan in the Netherlands game. | Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI Even as India ended its T20 World Cup group stage with a 17-run win over the Netherlands here on Wednesday, there was an unease despite the defending champion’s unbeaten run.The apprehension stemmed from the host’s poor handling of spin. While the left-arm spin of Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus (four for 20) kept the Indian batters on a leash in New Delhi, off-spinner Aryan Dutt accounted for Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan inside the PowerPlay in Ahmedabad.India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate admitted that the team’s vulnerability to…

Ibrahim Zadran of Afghanistan plays a shot during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group D match against Canada at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday. | Photo Credit: S.R. Raghunathan Opener Ibrahim Zadran’s career-best T20I score and Mohammad Nabi’s four-wicket haul were the highlights of Afghanistan’s 82-run win against Canada in a T20 World Cup game at Chepauk on Thursday (February 19, 2026).Zadran’s unbeaten 95 was the cornerstone of Afghanistan’s first-innings batting effort that culminated at 200 for four.Canada never posed a real challenge in the chase after its top-order batters were left confounded by Afghanistan’s…

Last weekend, the Indian Super League (ISL), the highest league in Indian football, kicked off after months of uncertainty. The disruption, which compelled some clubs to halt their operations and consigned the players and coaches to a state of desperation, emanated from the absence of a commercial partner for the league once the Master Rights Agreement between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) expired in December. The Indian football team, which is 141st in the FIFA rankings, failed to even qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup after a loss to Singapore last October.…

A pro-Israel group is wading into nearly a dozen contentious House primaries as it tries to shape the Democratic Party’s approach to the controversial issue. The Democratic Majority for Israel PAC, which backs pro-Israel Democrats, is endorsing 11 House candidates, including several in expensive and crowded primaries the party must win in order to retake the House. The group’s initial endorsement list was shared first with POLITICO. DMFI, first launched in 2019, is one of several groups across the political spectrum looking to influence the party’s views on Israel, even as its military operations in Gaza have divided the Democratic…

Zimbabwe’s captain Sikandar Raza plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on February 19, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP Skipper Sikandar Raza said Zimbabwe’s wonder run in the T20 World Cup group stages has earned his side respect from everyone, and he hoped to recreate the universally loved underdog’s victory story in the Super Eights against tough opponents.The Africans showed a glimpse of their ability to spring surprises while sweeping aside Australia and Sri Lanka in Group B matches in Colombo.“We keep our sights forward. If I keep…

Italy’s Harry Manenti leaves the ground after losing his wicket during the T20 World Cup cricket match between West Indies and Italy in Kolkata, on February 19, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP Stand-in captain Harry Manenti did not hide his frustration, saying Italy are on a strong “trajectory” but it could “drop off” if they do not get enough regular cricket at this level.Italy’s T20 World Cup debut was over with West Indies on Thursday (February 19, 2026), securing a facile 42-run win in their last Group C fixture to cruise to Super Eights with four wins out of four.…

A file image of India’s Harmanpreet Kaur. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Harmanpreet Kaur became the highest-capped player in women’s international ​cricket when she made her 356th ‌appearance for India in Thursday’s (February 19, 2026) Twenty20 ​match against Australia, surpassing ⁠New Zealand great Suzie Bates.Indian captain Kaur, 36, has now played six tests, ‌161 One-Day Internationals and 189 T20 matches for her ‌country since 2009. Bates, two ‌years ⁠her elder, has not played ⁠for New Zealand since making her 355th international appearance in October during the ODI ​World Cup.Kaur’s compatriot ‌Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most international appearances…

PHILADELPHIA — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a bellwether Democrat on AI and data centers, is tempering his message ahead of his reelection campaign. Shapiro, a swing-state Democrat and a 2028 presidential prospect, has staked his state’s economic fortunes on the tech industry. He wooed a $20 billion investment from Amazon along with major investments by Microsoft and Google. Shapiro has backed President Donald Trump’s call for more nuclear and natural gas plants to power new tech hubs. He’s now trying to hedge his bet as data centers absorb a nationwide backlash from voters increasingly concerned about their impact on electricity…