Entertainment
Crickters’ body laments Bangladesh’s absence from T20 World Cup 2026
NEW DELHI: The absence of Bangladesh from next month’s T20 World Cup is a sad moment for the game and should serve as a call for stakeholders to work towards uniting the sport, not dividing it, the international cricketers’ association said on Sunday.
Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the 20-team showpiece on Saturday following their refusal to tour India over safety concerns in the wake of soured political relations between the Asian neighbours.
The governing International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected Bangladesh’s request to move their matches to tournament co-host Sri Lanka, saying it was not feasible to change the schedule so close to the February 7 start of the tournament.
“The withdrawal of Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup, and resulting absence of a valued cricketing nation from cricket’s pinnacle international T20 event, is a sad moment for our sport, the Bangladesh players and fans, and Ba,” World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) Chief Executive Tom Moffat said in a statement.
“Rather than allowing division or exclusion to take hold, we call on the game’s leaders to work with all stakeholders, including Governing Bodies, leagues and players, to unite the sport, not divide it.”
The events underline the current tension in South Asian cricket.
India’s fraught political relations with Pakistan prompted the ICC to broker an arrangement allowing them to play at a neutral venue when their neighbour hosts a global tournament.
Pakistan are set to play all their matches at the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in Sri Lanka, though the country’s board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi said on Saturday their participation was still not confirmed.
“The prime minister is not in Pakistan right now. When he returns, I’ll be able to give you our final decision,” Naqvi, who is also the country’s interior minister, told reporters.
Moffat said the WCA had become increasingly concerned by agreements not being honoured in the sport and by a lack of meaningful consultation with players and their representatives.
“It also highlights significant issues with the game’s existing operating model at the global level,” he added.
“These issues, if continued to be left unaddressed, will weaken trust, unity, and ultimately the health and future of the game we love.”
Entertainment
King Charles health update leaves Prince William worried: ‘upsetting’
Prince William appears to be growing worried for his cancer-stricken father King Charles after the latest health update causes major concerns in the Palace.
The Prince of Wales, who has been receiving more significant duties from the Palace, is fully aware of his royal in the family but he also deeply cares for his father.
King Charles, along with Queen Camilla, were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales for Nigeria’s State Banquet last week, and William had expressed his concerns about the monarch’s health at the time.
However, he was quickly shut down by Camilla. According to an insider cited by Closer, William “did not feel Charles was well enough” for the engagements.
“William wants his father to slow down and take a proper step back,” the source said. However, every time William had brough it up, there’s a sense that Camilla “is encouraging Charles to continue his duty, especially at a time the family is receiving so much criticism”.
The heir to the throne believes that his father will improve if he is allowed to take proper rest.
“It’s very upsetting for him because he can see how quickly his father Charles is deteriorating and he feels totally helpless to do anything about it,” the source noted, adding that Camilla “blocks him at every turn”.
Meanwhile, King Charles is “incredibly proud” and he wants to continue as long as he possibly can. Even though William admires the trait in his father but he believes there has to be a line.
Entertainment
Zayn Malik shares personal video message on ‘Mind of Mine’ 10th anniversary
Zayn Malik is celebrating 10 years of his debut solo album Mind of Mine with a heartfelt message.
Earlier this week, the former One Direction star took to his Instagram Stories to post a short video of himself sharing the milestone with his supporters.
Clad in a black leather jacket the Dusk Till Dawn hitmaker expressed his gratitude for all the love all this time.
“Zayn here,” he began in the brief clip. “It’s been exactly 10 years since the release of Mind of Mind, so I thought I’d just do a little video just to say thank you so much for all the support.”
“Love you guys,” the Die For Me singer continued. “It means the world.”
He wrapped up the personal video message, joking, “hopefully I don’t look too old,” flashed a bright smile and waved at his admirers.
For the unversed, Zayn, now 32, released Mind of Mine, his debut solo studio album on March 25, 2016.
It came out exactly one year after his departure from the boy band, consisting of Liam Payne (late), Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.
The lead single, Pillowtalk, debuted at number one in both the UK and US, making Zayn the first British male artist to achieve this with a debut single.
He dropped Like I Would as the second official single, which leaned more toward an uptempo, dance-pop sound.
A collaboration, titled Wrong, with American singer Kehlani served as the final single from the album.
Moreover, a notable track is Intermission: Flower, a Sufi devotional sung in Urdu, reflecting Zayn’s British-Pakistani heritage.
Entertainment
Antonio Banderas opens up on ethnic stereotyping in Hollywood
Antonio Banderas has spoken candidly about the ethnic stereotyping he faced when he first arrived in Hollywood, recalling being told bluntly that his Hispanic background limited him to villainous roles, and explaining why breaking out of that box still means so much to him.
“They said, you are here, like the blacks and the Hispanics, to play the bad guys,” the Oscar-nominated actor told The Times.
The irony of what came next is something he clearly savours.
“The problem was a few years later I had a mask, hat, sword and cape and the bad guy was Captain Love, who was blond and had blue eyes.”
That role was, of course, Zorro, the gutsy hero Banderas played in The Mask of Zorro in 1998 and The Legend of Zorro in 2005.
But it was a cat, not a swordsman, that he considers the most culturally significant step forward.
Puss in Boots, the character he first voiced in Shrek 2 in 2004, reached an audience that nothing else could quite match.
“Even more important is Puss in Boots, because it’s for young kids. They see a cat that has a Spanish, even an Andalusian accent and he’s a good guy.”
He has now voiced the character across five films, including the critically lauded Puss in Boots: The Last Wish in 2022, which earned an Oscar nomination.
However, the 65-year-old confirmed last year that he has not yet been approached for Shrek 5, due in cinemas on 30 June 2027.
“I’m not so far, and I’m not being called for that,” he told Parade.
“Puss in Boots did very well. Number two got a nomination for the Oscar, and the movie behaved beautifully at the box office. But I am totally satisfied with the five Puss in Boots that I did. I don’t know what is going to happen in the future. Maybe they [will] call me tomorrow.”
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