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ICC releases latest T20 player rankings

February 25, 2026 by Newsdesk

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the latest T20 player rankings, featuring notable changes across batters, all-rounders, and bowlers.

Batters Ranking

Abhishek Sharma of India retains the top spot in the T20 batters ranking.

Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan climbs two places to third position.

Ishan Kishan of India improves three spots to reach fifth place.

South Africa’s David Bruus jumps ten places to ninth, while England’s Harry Brook rises ten spots to 18th.

All-Rounders Ranking

Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe continues as the No. 1 T20 all-rounder.

Saem Ayub drops one place to second position.

Bowlers Ranking

Varun Chakaravarthy of India maintains the top spot among T20 bowlers.

South Africa’s Carbon Bosch rises 21 places to reach third position.

Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed drops two spots to fifth, while West Indies’ Matthew Ford climbs 23 places to seventh.

The latest rankings reflect players’ recent performances in T20 internationals across the globe.

Pakistan qualifies directly for ICC T20 World Cup 2028

February 18, 2026 by Newsdesk

KARACHI: Following their advancement to the Super 8 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan has secured direct qualification for the ICC T20 World Cup 2028, jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), the eight teams that reach the Super 8 stage of the 2026 edition automatically qualify for the next World Cup.

These teams include Pakistan, India, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and West Indies. Host Australia also qualifies directly.

Additionally, the next three highest-ranked teams in the ICC T20 rankings as of 9 March 2026 will earn direct entry.

Currently, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Ireland are in contention for these spots. The remaining eight teams will be determined through regional qualifiers.

On the other hand, Pakistan’s aggressive opener Sahebzada Farhan has emerged as the highest run-scorer in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 following a spectacular unbeaten century against Namibia.

In the crucial match in Colombo, Pakistan set a challenging target of 200 runs, powered by Farhan’s 100 not out off 58 balls, including 4 sixes and 11 fours.

With this innings, Farhan has scored 220 runs in four matches, surpassing South Africa’s Aiden Markram, who has 178 runs from the same number of games.

Farhan has also become the most prolific six-hitter of the tournament, smashing 11 sixes in four innings, edging out India’s Ishan Kishan, who has 10 sixes in four matches.

His remarkable performances have been instrumental in Pakistan’s dominant campaign, including their 102-run victory over Namibia, which also secured their spot in the Super 8 stage.

Farhan’s consistency and power-hitting make him a standout player in the ongoing T20 World Cup, with fans and analysts hailing him as one of the tournament’s key performers.

PCB informs ICC of decision not to play against India in T20 World Cup

February 7, 2026 by Newsdesk

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding its refusal to play against India in the February 15 league match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup, according to reports by Indian website Cricbuzz.

Indian media reports stated that Pakistan has communicated the specific reasons behind this decision to the ICC. Earlier, the Government of Pakistan had cleared the national team to participate in the tournament but explicitly prohibited them from facing India during the league stage.

Sources told Cricbuzz that the ICC has asked the PCB for clarifications under the Force Majeure clause in the Terms of Participation, seeking details on the steps Pakistan had taken to mitigate the claim.

The government in Islamabad has authorized the national side to play other matches but maintained its restriction on the marquee clash with India on February 15.

This situation follows Bangladesh’s decision to withdraw from playing in India, citing security concerns. As a result, Bangladesh was removed from Group C by the ICC and replaced by Scotland. Pakistan had supported Bangladesh’s request to relocate their matches to Sri Lanka.

“It’s sad Bangladesh is not here. They have a very good side. Hopefully, they will support us,” said Agha, referring to Pakistan’s hopes of regional solidarity.

Pakistan and India have not played bilateral cricket for over a decade, meeting only in multinational tournaments. In the group stage, Pakistan will now face Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States.

ICC releases official song for Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

January 30, 2026 by Newsdesk

Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially released the anthem for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

The ICC unveiled the tournament’s official song titled “Feel the Thrill,” which reflects the excitement, energy, and global passion associated with T20 cricket.

The anthem has been composed and performed by renowned musician and singer Anirudh Ravichander and has been officially launched worldwide.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to be held from February 7 to March 8 across India and Sri Lanka, with the anthem expected to further elevate enthusiasm among cricket fans around the globe.

ICC names Afridi among iconic performances in T20 World Cup history

January 30, 2026 by Newsdesk

LAHORE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its list of iconic performances in the history of T20 World Cups, featuring former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi among the legends of the tournament.

According to the ICC, Afridi’s outstanding all-round display in the 2009 T20 World Cup has been declared iconic.

During the semi-final, Afridi scored 51 runs and took two crucial wickets, guiding Pakistan into the final. He then played a match-winning knock of 54 runs off 40 balls in the final, helping Pakistan clinch the title.

As per the list, Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes in an over during the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup were also termed an iconic moment in cricket history.

The ICC further included Mike Hussey’s explosive 60 off 24 balls against Pakistan in the 2010 T20 World Cup among the memorable performances.

From the 2012 edition, West Indies spinner Sunil Narine’s figures of three wickets for just nine runs earned a place on the iconic list, while Rangana Herath’s five-wicket haul in the semi-final of the 2014 T20 World Cup was also recognized.

The list also highlights Carlos Brathwaite’s four consecutive sixes in the final of the 2016 T20 World Cup, Mitchell Marsh’s 77-run innings in the 2021 World Cup final, and Ben Stokes’ match-winning 52 runs against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup.

In the most recent 2024 T20 World Cup, Virat Kohli’s brilliant 76-run innings has also been officially added by the ICC to the list of iconic performances.

BCB alleges ICC’s ‘unfair scheduling’ led to U19 World Cup exit

January 28, 2026 by Newsdesk

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has blamed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for its under-19 team’s early exit from the U19 World Cup, citing unfair scheduling and logistical challenges as key reasons.

According to Bangladeshi media, the BCB revealed that the team had to travel at its own expense due to the demanding schedule.

Habib Al-Bashar, BCB’s Game Development Coordinator, said the team’s performance suffered because of the way matches were scheduled.

“Our approach against England and India was misjudged, but the travel schedule affected the team the most,” Al-Bashar said. He described the schedule as “completely unfair”, explaining that the team was originally supposed to play two warm-up matches in Masango, then travel to Bulawayo. However, the ICC suddenly changed the schedule, forcing the matches to be held at two separate venues.

The BCB requested that the ICC adjust the fixtures to reduce travel burden, but the request was reportedly ignored.

Bangladeshi media reports stated that the team traveled from Masango to Bulawayo by road, a journey of several hours, for matches on January 10 and 13.

During the World Cup, domestic flights were restricted by the ICC, requiring teams to travel by bus. The Bangladesh team faced a 9-hour road journey from Harare to Bulawayo for group matches during the monsoon season.

To ease fatigue, the BCB personally arranged flights for matches against New Zealand and India, covering the expenses themselves.

Bangladesh was ultimately eliminated from the tournament following a defeat against England.

ICC decides to replace Bangladesh in World Cup if team skips

January 21, 2026 by Newsdesk

KARACHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to include an alternative team in the World Cup if Bangladesh opts not to travel to India.

According to cricket news sources, the decision was taken during an ICC Board Members meeting, where the situation regarding Bangladesh’s participation was discussed in detail.

The ICC reportedly informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to communicate with their government and confirm whether the team will participate in India. If they decide not to travel, the ICC will proceed to include a replacement team in the tournament.

During today’s board meeting, a vote was held, and the majority of members favored including a substitute team to ensure the tournament schedule is not disrupted.

Meanwhile, the ICC has granted BCB one more day to finalize its decision regarding playing in India.

BCB stands firm on not sending team to India for T20 World Cup

January 17, 2026 by Newsdesk

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has reaffirmed its decision not to send its team to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, citing security concerns and government instructions. The BCB issued a statement following a meeting with an ICC delegation in Dhaka.

During the discussions, the BCB reiterated its formal request to move Bangladesh’s matches to a neutral venue, citing safety and logistical considerations.

The meeting was described as constructive, cordial, and professional, with both sides openly exchanging views on relevant issues.

The ICC delegation included Gururav Sixena, General Manager of Events and Corporate Communications, and Andrew Effergrove, General Manager of the Integrity Unit. Sixena participated online due to visa delays.

The BCB also highlighted recent incidents, including India’s behavior during the Under-19 World Cup, where the Indian captain refused to shake hands with the Bangladeshi captain, as part of the ongoing tensions influencing their stance.

Both the BCB and ICC agreed to continue negotiations on the matter, including the possibility of transferring Bangladesh to another group for logistical reasons.

ICC releases latest player rankings: Pakistani cricketers show mixed results

January 14, 2026 by Newsdesk

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its latest player rankings for Test, ODI, and T20 formats, showing a mix of progress and setbacks for Pakistani cricketers.

In the T20 batting rankings, Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan climbed one spot to reach 5th position, while national team captain Salman Ali Agha made a significant jump of 13 places, moving up to 41st.

Among T20 bowlers, Salman Mirza advanced 16 places to secure 19th position, whereas Abrar Ahmed slipped one spot to 5th.

In the T20 all-rounders list, Saim Ayub dropped from first to second place, while Mohammad Nawaz retained his 5th position.

In the ODI bowling rankings, Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan remains at number one, with Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed holding steady at 9th. For Test batsmen, England’s Joe Root continues to top the charts.

Babar Azam retains his 6th position in the ODI batting rankings, while former Indian captain Virat Kohli has reclaimed the top spot.

The updated rankings highlight the strengths and areas for improvement among Pakistani cricketers ahead of upcoming international fixtures.

Moeen Ali expresses regret over Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL exclusion

January 7, 2026 by Newsdesk

Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali has expressed regret over the removal of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL), describing the situation as unfortunate and a reflection of long-standing issues in international cricket.

In an interview, Moeen Ali, without explicitly naming India, suggested that cricket boards in countries like Australia and England prioritize their own interests, remaining silent on contentious matters. “Politics and the world operate in the same way,” he said.

Ali also criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC), implying that those who control the organization influence decisions but face little scrutiny. “Everyone knows who runs the ICC, yet no one says anything,” he stated.

He added that the IPL decision regarding Mustafizur Rahman is disappointing but not surprising, noting that similar situations have historically affected Pakistan, though often without public discussion.

Regarding Bangladesh’s decision not to travel to India for the T20 World Cup, Moeen Ali clarified that he does not blame the Bangladeshi cricket board for the move.