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Agha admits batting failure cost Pakistan Asia Cup final

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Agha admits batting failure cost Pakistan Asia Cup final


Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha speaks at the captains’ press conference ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on September 9, 2025. — ACC

Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha conceded that his side’s batting collapse proved decisive in their defeat to India in the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 final, despite what he described as an “outstanding” bowling performance.

Put into bat first, the opening pair of Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman gave Pakistan a flamboyant start by putting together 84 runs ahead of the halfway mark.

Top-ranked T20I batter Varun Chakaravarthy gave India their first breakthrough in the 10th over by dismissing Farhan, who remained the top-scorer with 57 off 38 deliveries, smashing five fours and three sixes.

Despite Farhan’s dismissal, Pakistan were in a decent position as they had reached 113/1 in 12.4 overs before Kuldeep Yadav sent left-handed batter Saim Ayub (14) back.

His dismissal sparked a match-defining collapse, which saw Pakistan lose their remaining eight wickets for just 33 runs in 38 balls and were ultimately bowled out for a meagre 146 in 19.1 overs.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Pakistan captain Agha rued their inability to score enough runs before hinting at an overhaul in the department.

“It is a tough pill to swallow right now. We lost wickets while batting, we were outstanding with the ball but didn’t have enough runs on the board,” Agha said.

“We didn’t rotate strike and lost too many wickets. We have to sort out our batting very soon,” he added.

Despite defending a modest total, Pakistan’s bowling unit made India do hard yards to chase down the total as they conceded 19.4 overs and lost five wickets in the process.

Pakistan were especially lethal at the start of the second innings, with Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Shah Afridi collectively reducing the Men in Blue to 20/3 in four overs by dismissing in-form Abhishek Sharma (five), skipper Suryakumar Yadav (one) and Shubman Gill (12) cheaply.

Although a gutsy knock by middle-order batter Tilak Varma eventually led India to the title victory, Agha applauded his side’s bowling attack for displaying grit.

“They bowled outstandingly well, they (India) needed 63 from 6 overs and I thought we had the game. But the batting was what cost us the game,” Agha continued.

The Pakistan captain concluded by expressing pride in his team before vowing to work hard and make a strong comeback.

“I am very proud of the team, and there is so much to look forward to, we will work hard and come back stronger.”





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Andreeva triumphs over Mboko in teenage clash, seizes fourth title

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Andreeva triumphs over Mboko in teenage clash, seizes fourth title


Mirra Andreeva triumphs over Mboko in teenage clash, seizes fourth title

Teen phenom Andreeva has clinched the 2026 Adelaide International all-teen clash for the fourth straight time.

Andreeva defeated Victoria Mboko by 6-3, 6-1 in the final to win her first WTA 500 title.

It was Andreeva’s 12th win of the last 13 games to capture the 2026 Adelaide title.

After the victory, Andreeva said during the trophy presentation ceremony, “Hello everyone, First, of course, I’m going to say congrats to Vicky and her team. You have been playing amazing since last year, and I just want to congratulate you for the great week.

She quipped at her own team, saying, “I don’t know, I guess my team comes next. But I do feel like it was all me. I don’t know what I can. I’ve been working, sweating, and I don’t know why you’re here, honestly.”

The world No. 8 showed to the world at the Adelaide final that it’s not about how you begin, but how you end.

Mirra Andreeva triumphs over Mboko in teenage clash, seizes fourth title

As was evident from her spectacular display of the game, after she had dropped the first three games but won nine straight between the first and second sets to continue to a straight-sets victory over Victoria Mboko, she clinched her fourth career crown.

Buzzing with triumph, the teen phenom shared a post-match montage post.

In a lyrical two-line couplet, she was seen saying, “Mirra, Mirra on the wall, I’m the champion of Adelaide after all.”

Who is Mirra Andreeva?

Mirra Andreeva is the eighth-seeded player, who was born in Krasnoyarsk, the third-largest city in Siberia.

Mirra Andreeva started playing tennis when she was six years old. Both the sisters relocated to Sochi, Russia, and then Cannes, France, to set up a training base with coaches Jean-Rene Lisnard and Jean-Christophe Faurel.

Andreeva is the sister of Erika Anderson, who is also a professional tennis player.

Andreeva won her debut WTA Tour title in Romania in July 2024 and her second in Dubai in February 2025 before securing her third straight win in Indian Wells in March 2025.

After a historic victory in the 2026 Adelaide International on January 17, Mirra Andreeva is set to head to the Australian Open for her next big challenge, starting tomorrow, Sunday, January 18, 2026.





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Venezuela interim leader sacks industry minister allied with ousted president Maduro

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Venezuela interim leader sacks industry minister allied with ousted president Maduro


Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro (left) speaks to supporters while standing next to Alex Saab at a pro‑government rally in Caracas last year. —  AFP
  • Rodriguez reshuffles cabinet after US-backed transition in Venezuela.
  • US pressure mounts as Venezuela drops Maduro ally Alex Saab.
  • US deportation flight returns Venezuelans after Maduro ouster.

Venezuela’s interim president on Friday dismissed businessman Alex Saab, a close ally of deposed leader Nicolas Maduro, from his post as minister of industry.

In a Telegram message, Delcy Rodriguez announced the ministry would be combined with a commerce ministry and thanked Saab — a Colombian-born Venezuelan — “for his service to the Homeland; he will be taking on new responsibilities.”

The change comes amid pressure from Washington following the January 3 US military raid that ousted Maduro.

Saab, released in 2023 as part of a prisoner exchange with the United States, was appointed to office in 2024 by Maduro.

He had been arrested in Cape Verde in 2020 due to an Interpol notice over accusations that he had served as a money launderer for the socialist leader.

He was subsequently extradited to the US, where he and his business partner Alvaro Pulido were charged with running a network that exploited food aid destined for Venezuela.

Saab’s dismissal is among the latest key changes to Venezuela’s government by Rodriguez since the US capture of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, meanwhile, said her country is starting a “true transition” to democracy and will become free with support from the United States and President Donald Trump.

Trump, however, has sidelined Nobel laureate Machado and backed former vice president Rodriguez as interim leader of the oil-rich country following the seizure of Maduro.

“We are definitely now into the first steps of a true transition to democracy,” Machado said during an event in Washington, adding that this will have an “immense impact on the lives of all Venezuelans” as well as around the region and the world.

“Venezuela is going to be free, and that’s going to be achieved with the support of the people of the United States and the president, Donald Trump,” Machado said.

Her party has presented evidence that Maduro stole the 2024 election — claims supported by Washington and much of the international community.

But Trump has said that Machado does not have enough support among Venezuelans, and opted to stick with Rodriguez so long as she toes the line on US access to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.

Machado said Friday that Rodriguez is “following orders” rather than acting of her own will.

The opposition leader’s remarks came a day after US Central Intelligence Agency chief John Ratcliffe met Rodriguez in Caracas.

Ratcliffe travelled to Venezuela to “deliver the message that the United States looks forward to an improved working relationship,” a US administration official said on condition of anonymity.

Nobel medal

In an indication of that improved relationship, a US deportation flight carrying 231 Venezuelans landed in Caracas on Friday, the first since Maduro’s overthrow.

Trump has made cracking down on undocumented immigrants a major part of his second term, carrying out sweeping immigration raids and deporting migrants.

Machado, 58, on Thursday presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump in a bid to win over the US president.

“He deserves it,” she said. “And it was a very emotional moment, I decided to present the Nobel Peace Prize medal on behalf of the people of Venezuela.”

It was not immediately clear if Trump — who said Friday that he and Machado will “be talking again” — kept the award following their White House lunch. The Norwegian Nobel Committee says its prizes cannot be transferred.

Trump had campaigned hard to win last year’s prize, falsely claiming that he stopped eight wars since taking office, but it went to Machado instead.

Trump and Rodriguez had their first telephone call on Wednesday and the White House said he “likes what he’s seeing” from her.

Rodriguez said, however, that her government will stand up to Washington.

“We know they are very powerful… we are not afraid to confront them diplomatically, through political dialogue,” she said Thursday.

Rodriguez was delivering Maduro’s state of the nation address to parliament while the long-time authoritarian leader is in a New York jail facing drug trafficking charges.

By contrast, Machado, who campaigned for years to end leftist Maduro’s rule, was greeted by jubilant supporters in Washington.





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Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell to lead ‘Yellowstone’ spinoff ‘The Madison’

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Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell to lead ‘Yellowstone’ spinoff ‘The Madison’


Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell to lead ‘Yellowstone’ spinoff ‘The Madison’

Paramount+ has announced a new spinoff to its hit Western series, Yellowstone, with Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell leading the project.

Recently sharing a first look at The Madison, the streamer highlighted the character names for both of the stars.

It was noted that Michelle will play Stacy Clyburn, described as “the heart of the family”, while Kurt will appear as Preston Clyburn.

“The new series premieres Saturday, March 14th, only on @paramountplus,” revealed the caption alongside both Michelle and Kurt’s stills.

Following the Clyburn family’s story, The Madison has been described as a “heartfelt study of grief and human connection following a New York City family in the Madison River valley of central Montana.”

Whereas its IMDb synopsis stated: “A New York family’s life unravels after a tragedy, as they process grief while vacationing in rural Montana, exploring human connection amidst profound sorrow.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, while “the six-episode first season” of the series “will introduce the Clyburn family”, it is not yet known “if they are connected to the Duttons” — the protagonist clan from Yellowstone, led by Kevin Costner.

Meanwhile, The Madison cast additionally includes Beau Garrett, Elle Chapman, Patrick J. Adams, Amiah Miller, Alaina Pollack, Ben Schnetzer, Kevin Zegers, Rebecca Spence, Danielle Vasinova, and Matthew Fox.





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