Sports
Will not play World Cup matches in India, Bangladesh tells ICC – SUCH TV
Bangladesh’s cricket board said on Tuesday it had repeated its refusal to travel to India for next month’s T20 World Cup during talks with the ICC governing body.
With ties tense between the two countries, Bangladesh wants the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift their World Cup games from India to co-hosts Sri Lanka, citing security concerns.
The World Cup begins on February 7 and Bangladesh are scheduled to play their four group matches in India.
The row erupted on January 3, when India forced Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman to quit the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Mustafizur, who has played in the IPL for other teams in previous editions, was snapped up at auction in December by Kolkata for more than $1 million.
His sacking sparked fury in Dhaka.
On Tuesday, during a video conference with the ICC, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said it had “reiterated its request for the ICC to consider relocating Bangladesh’s matches outside India”.
Political relations between India and Bangladesh soured after a mass uprising in Dhaka in 2024 toppled then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a close ally of New Delhi.
India’s foreign ministry last month condemned what it called “unremitting hostility against minorities” in Muslim-majority Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s interim leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, has accused India of exaggerating the scale of the violence.
“The BCB reaffirmed its position regarding the decision not to travel to India, citing security concerns,” the BCB said in a statement.
“While the ICC highlighted that the tournament itinerary has already been announced and requested the BCB to reconsider its stance, the Board’s position remains unchanged.”
The ICC have not commented.
The BCB said discussions with the ICC continue to “explore possible solutions”, it added, but that it “remains committed to safeguarding the well-being of its players, officials and staff”.
Bangladesh, led by Litton Das, are placed ninth in the ICC T20 rankings.
They have played all nine editions of the tournament, but have never qualified for the semi-finals.
Sports
Former Auburn men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl calls for ‘free Iran,’ backs Trump amid US-Israel strikes
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Former Auburn men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl called Iran the “head of the snake” and backed President Donald Trump hours after the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on the country.
Pearl, one of a handful of Jewish coaches in college basketball before his retirement in September, took to social media shortly after the U.S. joined Israel in launching preemptive strikes against Iran on Saturday morning.
Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl during the first half in the South Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament against the Michigan State Spartans at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 30, 2025. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images) (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)
“President Trump gave Iran a chance to avoid War by simply agreeing to No Nukes. Iran launched middles at other Arab countries and Israel, huge mistake! Saudi Arabia joins our side,” Pearl wrote in post on X.
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“Iran is head of the snake. President Trump is the leader of the free world. Defeat Evil then Peace!”
In an earlier post on X, Pearl made a plea for a “free Iran” and “real peace” in the Middle East.
“Lord Hear Our Prayer Please put your hedge of protection over our heroic armed service as they target Iran military and missile sites with Operation Epic Fury. Pray for the innocent Pray for the enemy to be destroyed, a free Iran and then for real Peace in the Middle East.”
Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl signals to players against the Florida Gators during the first half in the semifinals of the men’s Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome. (Bob Donnan/Imagn Images)
In video remarks posted to Truth Social, Trump encouraged the Iranian people to take over their government once the United States and Israel finished “major combat operations” in Iran.
“The hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside,” he said addressing the Iranian people. “This will be, probably, your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it. No President was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a President who is giving you what you want.”
Iran launched retaliatory missile strikes targeting U.S. facilities in multiple countries. Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin reported that approximately 40 missiles had landed in Israel. Additionally, Iran appeared to hit the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, but no casualties were reported. Iran also launched missiles at Saudi Arabia and Jordan, where the U.S. has squadrons of advanced fighter jets, Griffin added.
Smoke rises after reported Iranian missile attacks, following strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, in Manama, Bahrain, Feb. 28, 2026. (Reuters)
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Pearl, an outspoken supporter of Israel since the Oct. 7 attacks, was named chairman of the board of directors for the U.S. Israel Education Association (USIEA) in April. At the time of the announcement, Pearl said he was “proud to continue advocating for greater understanding and collaboration” between the U.S. and Israel.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Sinkewicz and Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Related Article
It’s the final day of the month, and we have great matches across Europe for you to enjoy!
We kick things off in the Premier League, as the race for the top four becomes tighter. Liverpool needing a win against relegation battlers West Ham United to stay in touch in the fight for a spot in the Champions League next season. Later, we have Leeds United looking to spoil Manchester City‘s title hopes as they host Pep Guardiola’s team at Elland Road.
Elsewhere, in LaLiga, Barcelona look to continue to remain top of the league as they host Levante, and, in the Bundesliga, it’s Der Klassiker as Borussia Dortmund hope to halt Bayern Munich‘s potential title hopes.
Enjoy all the updates from Saturday’s matches.
Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan plays a shot during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup Super Eights match between England and Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on February 24, 2026. Photo: AFP
Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan set a new benchmark at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after becoming the highest run-scorer in a single edition of the tournament.
Farhan achieved the milestone during Pakistan’s Super Eight match against Sri Lanka at Pallekele on Saturday, moving past former India captain Virat Kohli, who scored 319 runs in the 2014 edition.
The right-handed opener now leads the run charts with 323* runs, underlining a standout campaign that has included a century and two half-centuries for Pakistan at the T20 World Cup 2026.
Farhan’s consistency at the top of the order has been one of the few certainties for Pakistan in a tightly contested tournament.
Most runs in a single T20 World Cup edition
323 – Sahibzada Farhan, Pakistan (2026)*
319 – Virat Kohli, India (2014)
317 – Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka (2009)
303 – Babar Azam, Pakistan (2021)
302 – Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka (2010)
The match also saw Pakistan shatter several records. Farhan and Fakhar Zaman stitched together a 176-run opening partnership — the highest ever for the first wicket in T20 World Cup history.
The pair surpassed the previous record of 175 set by New Zealand’s Tim Seifert and Finn Allen against the United Arab Emirates in Chennai earlier in the tournament.
It was also Pakistan’s highest-ever partnership in T20 World Cup history, eclipsing the unbeaten 152-run stand between Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan against India in the 2021 edition.
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