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Chennai, Feb 19 (IANS) After striking a career-best unbeaten 95 to guide Afghanistan to a commanding 82-run victory over Canada in their final Group D clash of the T20 World Cup on Thursday, opener Ibrahim Zadran dedicated his Player of the Match award to outgoing head coach Jonathan Trott.

Zadran’s knock, which came off 56 balls, was the highest individual score by an Afghanistan batter at a T20 World Cup, surpassing Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s 84 against South Africa earlier in the tournament. His innings laid the foundation for Afghanistan’s total of 200/4, with Mohammad Nabi later starring with 4-7 to seal the win at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

“I enjoyed it, didn't play better cricket in the first two innings, which I expected. Wanted to back my skills, really enjoyed it. Pressure was there; it's there all the time. I want to put myself in pressure situations and enjoy it. Wanted to play positive cricket, rotate strike and punish bad balls, create partnerships, and this is what I have done.

“Want to dedicate this to coach Jonathan (Trott) - he has supported me, he has encouraged us all a lot. We have achieved things in ICC events. It's his last day with us; he taught me lots of things. I wish him all the best. We will all miss him a lot,” Zadran said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan also paid tribute to Trott, who will step down after the side’s run in the tournament ended. “I think we had some wonderful times with him. Where we are now, he played a major role. It's emotional to see him leave us, but that's how life is. We wish him all the best, and somewhere down the line, we see him again.”

Asked about his disappointment in how the campaign panned out, Rashid said, “We were well-prepared, we played some unbelievable cricket. The game against South Africa really hurt everyone. We had to win one of those (first two) games and see how the tournament unfolded. We'll take some positive things from this World Cup and look forward.

“A couple of areas to improve, with the batting, the middle order got a bit stuck against the big teams, and then with the bowling, the death overs. That comes when you play the bigger teams in bilateral series. We have great spinners, good batters at the top, but that's where we need to improve.”

Rashid also thanked fans who came to support the team in their matches. “Finally, a massive thank you to all the fans who supported us in Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Delhi. The love we received made us feel like we were playing at home in Afghanistan. We’re truly grateful for the support everywhere we’ve gone. Please keep backing us, we’ll keep working hard and do our best to entertain you.”

Canada skipper Dilpreet Bajwa acknowledged his side’s shortcomings but praised the exposure gained. “It was great to see that camaraderie out there. I’ve played franchise cricket with Azmatullah Omarzai - we were on the same team - and he’s a very good friend of mine. I’ve also played with Noor, and most of the players know each other through franchise leagues. That’s the beauty of the game today, it builds strong bonds beyond international cricket.”

Asked about where things went wrong, Bajwa said, “It was a tough day for us. We started well after winning the toss and choosing to field, but I think our finishing with the ball wasn’t up to the mark. That’s something we need to improve going forward. In the chase, losing early wickets made it difficult, especially against quality spinners, as we knew that would be challenging.”

Reflecting on the positives from the tournament, Bajwa said, “Overall, it was a good tournament for our players. Yuvraj Samra showed the world that Canada has real talent, and players like Ansh Patel, Harsh, and Navneet also performed well. Individually, there were positives, but as a unit, we didn’t click.

“This World Cup was a valuable learning experience, and we’ll come back stronger. Playing in front of 16,000 fans here in Chennai was special, the atmosphere was fantastic, and we’re thankful for the support. It’s been a tough campaign, but we’re looking forward to doing better in the future.”

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 19 (IANS) An own-goal by Pritam Kotal proved the difference as Mumbai City FC began their Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season on a winning note, edging past Chennaiyin FC 1-0 in Match 7, which was played at the Mumbai Football Arena in Mumbai on Thursday.

The tightly-contested encounter between two former winners of the league was decided by an own goal in the 48th minute by Pritam Kotal as the Islanders secured all three points.

Neither team could create much flow in the match as they cancelled each other out in midfield. Chances were a premium in the first half as the attackers found it difficult to break the opposition's defence. Jorge Pereyra Díaz forced a fine save out of Mohammad Nawaz after he was played through by Jorge Ortiz.

Minutes later, Brandon Fernandes, who looked in sublime form for the Islanders, found Lallianzuala Chhangte at the far post. The forward laid the ball on the path of Ortiz with a great touch, but the Spaniard’s effort only found the goalkeeper.

Chennaiyin relied on long balls with Irfan Yadwad and new signing Iñigo Martín as the target men, but they were well marked by the Mumbai City defence. The away side earned five corner kicks in the first half but did not trouble Phurba Lachenpa in the Mumbai goal. The Chennaiyin wingers were sending in crosses which were a regularity throughout the match, but the opposition defence were alert to the danger with Valpuia making two crucial clearances at the back post.

The Islanders started the second half with more intent, earning an early corner. The early pressure led to them taking the lead after four minutes of the restart. Joni Kauko’s attempted cross, which was aimed for Pereyra Díaz in the box, took a huge deflection off Pritam Kotal and found the target, wrong-footing Mohammad Nawaz in goal.

Chennaiyin kept possession after trailing in the match, but the pattern of their attack remained the same, using their wide players to whip in crosses into the box. Mumbai City's defence maintained its shape and ensured the opposition forwards did not create any clear-cut chances.

Chennaiyin earned a total of 15 corner kicks, including four back-to-back while chasing the equaliser, but were not able to capitalise on the pressure created on the defence. The closest they came to scoring was when Mandar Rao Dessai could not get a proper connection after an initial corner kick was recycled into the box during the dying stages of the match.

In the end, Mumbai City held on to their slender lead to secure all three points in front of their home crowd. Mumbai City defender Akash Mishra was adjudged the Player of the Match.

--IANS

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Chennai, Feb 19 (IANS) Veteran off-spin bowling all-rounder Mohammad Nabi produced a dazzling spell of 4-7 as Afghanistan crushed Canada by 82 runs in their final Group D clash and signed off from the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup on a high at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday.

Inserted to bat first, Afghanistan piled up 200/4, powered by Ibrahim Zadran’s unbeaten 95, his second successive fifty of the tournament. Sediqullah Atal chipped in with 44, as Afghanistan made a score of 200 in the tournament for the first time. Canada pacer Jaskaran Singh was the pick of their bowlers, claiming 3-52, but the visitors struggled to contain Afghanistan’s acceleration in the final overs, which yielded 69 runs.

Canada’s reply began brightly, with Yuvraj Samra striking boundaries in the opening over and Dilpreet Bajwa clearing the ropes twice in the next over. But their momentum was short-lived as Mujeeb Ur Rahman bowled Bajwa, Navneet Dhaliwal departed for a duck in his final international game, and Nabi removed Samra to leave Canada reeling at 33/3 inside the powerplay.

From there, Afghanistan’s spinners tightened the screws. Skipper Rashid Khan chipped in with 2-19 while Nabi’s guile proved to be decisive as he ran through the middle order. Canada’s resistance came in brief bursts, with Harsh Thaker (30) and captain Saad bin Zafar (28) offering some fight through a 53-run stand. But the chase never recovered from the early collapse, as they eventually made 118/8 in their 20 overs.

The result gave Afghanistan a convincing finish to a campaign that promised much but fell short of entering the Super Eight stage, with Jonathan Trott overseeing his final match as their head coach. For Canada, the defeat marked the end of a spirited run and glimpses of promise from their younger players.

A chase of 201 was always going to be an uphill task, though Samra and Bajwa began brightly. But their chase quickly unravelled as Mujeeb castled Bajwa with a googly, Dhaliwal picked out deep backward point to fall for a five-ball duck, and Nabi struck off his very first ball to remove Samra, when the leading edge was caught by backward point.

Nabi continued to weave his magic, dismissing Nicholas Kirton and later Thaker to finish with his best-ever figures at a T20 World Cup. Rashid Khan took out Shreyas Movva and bin Zafar as the middle order folded under relentless spin pressure, as Afghanistan ended their campaign on a high.

Previously, Afghanistan made a steady start before Canada hit back in the sixth over, as pacer Jaskaran Singh dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Gulbadin Naib in the space of four balls. Zadran then anchored the innings, finding support from Atal in a 95-run stand off 59 balls for the third wicket. Zadran brought up his second successive fifty of the tournament, while Atal fell in the 16th over for 44 off 32 balls.

Zadran, dropped on 54 by Dhaliwal, capitalised on the reprieve to steer Afghanistan to exactly 200 in a 56-ball vigil at the crease laced with seven fours and five sixes at a strike-rate of 169.64. Afghanistan raced to 49 in the powerplay but suffered a wobble when Gurbaz, who had looked dangerous with a flurry of boundaries, perished attempting one shot too many, while Naib was trapped in front by a full delivery that skidded through.

The double blow briefly checked Afghanistan’s momentum, but Zadran, calm and composed, found an able ally in Atal. The pair mixed calculated risk with fluent strokeplay. Atal, who struck seven boundaries in his 44, fell while trying to accelerate, but by then the innings had been firmly stabilised.

Zadran made the most of the reprieve given to him by Dhaliwal on 54 by unfurling drives, sweeps, and lofted strokes to keep the scoreboard ticking. His innings combined patience with power, and the ability to shift gears in the middle overs ensured Afghanistan never lost sight of a big total.

Canada’s bowlers had moments of control, but their lines and lengths faltered under pressure in the death overs. Afghanistan capitalised by scoring 69 runs in the final five overs, with Zadran ensuring boundaries flowed and set the stage for their dominating win.

Brief scores:

Afghanistan 200/4 in 20 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 95 not out, Sediqullah Atal 44; Jaskaran Singh 3-52, Dilon Heyliger 1-41) beat Canada 118/8 in 20 overs (Harsh Thaker 30, Saad Bin Zafar 28; Mohammad Nabi 4-7, Rashid Khan 2-19) by 82 runs

--IANS

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Chennai, Feb 19 (IANS) Veteran off-spin bowling all-rounder Mohammad Nabi produced a dazzling spell of 4-7 as Afghanistan crushed Canada by 82 runs in their final Group D clash and signed off from the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup on a high at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday.

Inserted to bat first, Afghanistan piled up 200/4, powered by Ibrahim Zadran’s unbeaten 95, his second successive fifty of the tournament. Sediqullah Atal chipped in with 44, as Afghanistan made a score of 200 in the tournament for the first time. Canada pacer Jaskaran Singh was the pick of their bowlers, claiming 3-52, but the visitors struggled to contain Afghanistan’s acceleration in the final overs, which yielded 69 runs.

Canada’s reply began brightly, with Yuvraj Samra striking boundaries in the opening over and Dilpreet Bajwa clearing the ropes twice in the next over. But their momentum was short-lived as Mujeeb Ur Rahman bowled Bajwa, Navneet Dhaliwal departed for a duck in his final international game, and Nabi removed Samra to leave Canada reeling at 33/3 inside the Power-play.

From there, Afghanistan’s spinners tightened the screws. Skipper Rashid Khan chipped in with 2-19 while Nabi’s guile proved to be decisive as he ran through the middle-order. Canada’s resistance came in brief bursts, with Harsh Thaker (30) and captain Saad bin Zafar (28) offering some fight through a 53-run stand. But the chase never recovered from the early collapse, as they eventually made 118/8 in their 20 overs.

The result gave Afghanistan a convincing finish to a campaign that promised much but fell short of entering the Super Eight stage, with Jonathan Trott overseeing his final match as their head coach. For Canada, the defeat marked the end of a spirited run and glimpses of promise from their younger players.

A chase of 201 was always going to be an uphill task, though Samra and Bajwa began brightly. But their chase quickly unravelled as Mujeeb castled Bajwa with a googly, Dhaliwal picked out deep backward point to fall for a five-ball duck, and Nabi struck off his very first ball to remove Samra, when the leading edge was caught by backward point.

Nabi continued to weave his magic, dismissing Nicholas Kirton and later Thaker to finish with his best-ever figures at a T20 World Cup. Rashid Khan took out Shreyas Movva and bin Zafar as the middle order folded under relentless spin pressure, as Afghanistan ended their campaign on a high.

Brief scores:

Afghanistan 200/4 in 20 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 95 not out, Sediqullah Atal 44; Jaskaran Singh 3-52, Dilon Heyliger 1-41) beat Canada 118/8 in 20 overs (Harsh Thaker 30, Saad Bin Zafar 28; Mohammad Nabi 4-7, Rashid Khan 2-19) by 82 runs

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 19 (IANS) The India U17 men's football team, which is preparing for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026, will play two friendly matches against Myanmar in Yangon on March 3 and 5, 2026.

The Blue Colts have already played four international friendly games this year -- two each against Tajikistan (in Goa) and Türkiye (in Antalya).

After returning from Türkiye, Bibiano Fernandes' side has continued to train in Goa. India U-17 will depart for the Myanmar capital on February 28, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) informed in a release on Thursday.

Like India, Myanmar too have qualified for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup. They topped Group C of the qualifiers, finishing above Oman, Syria, Afghanistan, and Nepal.

India will take on Australia (May 6), Uzbekistan (May 10), and DPR Korea (May 13) in Group D of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026, in which 16 top teams from the Continent will be taking part.

The Indian team has qualified for the 21st edition of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup (including previous editions of the AFC U-17 Championship, the annual international youth football championship organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the men's under-17 national teams of Asia.

Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Thailand and Myanmar make up Group A, while Japan, Indonesia, China and Qatar comprise Group B. Matches will be played in four venues in and around Jeddah.

The group winners and runners-up will advance to the quarterfinals and will also make it to the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup. If Qatar (who automatically qualified for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup as hosts) advance to the quarterfinals in the U-17 Asian Cup, the best third-placed team will also qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 19 (IANS) India opener Abhishek Sharma has endured a difficult start to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, registering his third successive duck in the team’s final group-stage fixture against the Netherlands and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes expectations may be weighing heavily on the 25-year-old, urging him to focus on building his innings rather than forcing big shots too early.

The sequence has placed Abhishek alongside Ashish Nehra for the most ducks by an Indian in T20 World Cup history, highlighting a rare slump for one of India’s most explosive batters.

“Abhishek Sharma is a lovely guy, but expectations seem to be weighing on him. If he had started well against the USA, it would have been different. Now, the pressure of being the big six-hitter and top batter is showing. With his shot range, he needs to spend time in the middle. He cannot try to hit a boundary or six on the first ball of his innings. If the big shots come, fine. But he shouldn’t force himself to play the big shots across the line,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

Sharma’s struggles began with a golden duck against the United States, followed by another early dismissal against Pakistan and then the Netherlands. In each instance, he fell within the first over, attempting aggressive strokes before settling in. Gavaskar emphasised the importance of getting off the mark and allowing his natural strokeplay to flow later in the innings.

“Take a single and get off the mark. Even four dot balls don’t matter. He can make up for them later. He needs to play smart. Spend an hour or two settling in, then play his natural game. First, just get off the mark. Every batter wants that first run. Once he gets it, everything will fall into place,” he added.

Despite the lean patch, India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate expressed confidence in Sharma’s ability to bounce back, pointing to encouraging signs in training after his recovery from illness that ruled him out of the match against Namibia.

“He batted really well last night in the nets. He spent 90 minutes batting. You also have to give him a bit of space. He came into the group phase not feeling too well, and he spent a few days in the hospital and missed the game (against Namibia). It’s been a very disappointing tournament for him so far. But I saw some really good signs with his ball striking last night. So no worries about him, he’ll be fine when the second phase comes.”

With India advancing to the Super 8s, the team management will be hoping Sharma can quickly rediscover his rhythm and play a key role in the decisive stage of the tournament.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 19 (IANS) India’s top-ranked singles player Sumit Nagal bowed out of the ATP Delhi Open 2026 after suffering a straight-sets defeat to Italy’s Federico Cina in the second round at the DLTA Complex in New Delhi on Thursday. Meanwhile, the top-seeded doubles pairing of Siddhant Banthia and Alexander Donski progressed to the quarterfinals with a commanding win.

Competing in the ATP Challenger 75 tournament, Nagal was unable to overturn an early deficit against the 18-year-old Cina, who displayed composure beyond his years. Cina broke Nagal in the opening game and held firm to take the first set 6-4. He then surged to a 5-1 lead in the second set, putting himself on the brink of victory.

Nagal, ranked No. 297 in the world, mounted a brief fightback by saving three match points and narrowing the gap to 5-4, raising hopes of a comeback. However, Cina held his nerve in the final game to close out a 6-4, 6-4 victory in one hour and 40 minutes, ending India’s singles campaign in the tournament.

Reflecting on his win, the young Italian acknowledged both Nagal’s pedigree and the challenge of playing in front of a home crowd.

“Nagal is someone who played in the main draw of the Grand Slams. So for sure I am very happy about this win,” Cina said after the win. “He is a tough player. He also played at home, so it was difficult. But I am very happy to win this match. It was tough because he was 5-4, and then the crowd was also getting excited. It was tough, but I served well in the last game in the end.”

Elsewhere in the singles draw, second seed Rei Sakamoto of Japan advanced to the quarterfinals after recovering from a set down to defeat Great Britain’s Alastair Grey 1-6, 6-1, 6-4. Third seed Jay Clarke and fifth-seed Oliver Crawford, both from Great Britain, along with Japan’s eighth seed Rio Noguchi, also progressed with straight-sets victories. In another notable result, Belgium’s Michael Geerts upset seventh seed Daniel Michalski of Poland in straight sets.

India found success in the doubles competition, where the top-seeded duo of Banthia and Donski secured a convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory over Francis Casey Alcantara and Courtney John Lock to book their place in the last eight.

Banthia expressed satisfaction with their performance and highlighted the pair’s growing understanding on court.

“It was good. Me and Alex have played a lot last year, and it was good to get him back on the court with me this year and start the season really strong,” Banthia said after the win. “I thought the chemistry was always there, and we both improved as individuals, as a player. We understand each other's game, and to have that dominant performance in the first round gives us a lot of confidence going forward.”

The Indian wildcard pair of Divij Sharan and Karan Singh also advanced to the quarterfinals, defeating Dimitar Kuzmanov and Denis Yevseyev in straight sets.

With Nagal’s exit, Somdev Devvarman remains the only Indian singles champion in the tournament’s history, having won back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015. The ATP Delhi Open, now in its sixth edition, continues at the DLTA Complex with players competing for valuable ranking points and prize money as the race for the title intensifies.

ATP Delhi Open 2026 - Day 5 Results (till 6 PM IST)

Men’s Singles Main Draw - Second Round

[2] Rei Sakamoto (JPN) d. Alastair Grey (GBR) 1-6, 6-4, 6-4

[3] Jay Clarke (GBR) d. [Q] Alexandr Binda (ITA) 6-4, 6-4

[5] Oliver Crawford (GBR) d. [PR] Ilya Ivashka 6-1, 6-4

[6] Federico Cina (ITA) d. Sumit Nagal (IND) 6-4, 6-4

Michael Geerts (BEL) d. [7] Daniel Michalski (POL) 7-6(8), 6-4

[8] Rio Noguchi (JPN) d. Dimitar Kuzmanov (BUL) 6-4, 6-3

Felix Gill (GBR) d. Petr Bar Biryukov 6-3, 7-6 (3)

Stefanos Sakellaridis (GRE) d. Beibit Zhukayev (KAZ) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4

Men’s Doubles Main Draw - First Round

[1] Siddhant Banthia (IND)/ Alexander Donski (BUL) d. Francis Casey Alcantara (PHI)/ Courtney John Lock (ZIM) 6-2, 6-3

[3] JiSung Nam (KOR)/ Patrik Niklas-Salminen (FIN) d. Dane Sweeny (AUS)/ Seita Watanabe (JPN) 7-6(7), 6-2

[WC] Divij Sharan (IND)/ Karan Singh (IND) d. Dimitar Kuzmanov (BUL)/ Denis Yevseyev (KAZ) 7-6(5), 6-4

Luca Castelnuovo (SUI)/Rio Noguchi (JPN) d. Oliver Crawford (GBR)/ Grigoriy Lomakin (KAZ) 4-1 (retd.)

--IANS

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Mumbai, Feb 19 (IANS) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has conveyed its displeasure to Shadab Khan over his post-match ridicule of former players, advising the all-rounder to mind his language during the ongoing World Cup, a report has claimed.

Shadab hit back at his criticism by former stars sitting on various television channels asking questions over his selection in the team, sources told Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net).

"Former cricketers have their own opinions," said Shadab after his 22-ball 36 and 3-13 during Pakistan's 102-run victory over Namibia in Colombo on Wednesday. "They (former players) were legends, but even they could not achieve what we have. We have beaten India in a World Cup," Shadab said.

The PCB, through team manager Naveed Cheema, conveyed to the allrounder not to say harsh words on former greats.

"Naveed Cheema has called to convey to Shadab that he was out of his limits in the press conference on Wednesday night. Shadab should know that all former players -- including his father-in-law, Saqlain Mushtaq -- are respectable and are greats of Pakistan. Shadab should respect them and should not use such language," sources told (www.telecomasia.net).

The report said that Cheema has been told to convey to other players also to keep their comments on the match, and should not cross the line, or action will be taken against them.

Shadab's father-in-law, Saqlain Mushtaq, has also expressed displeasure over Shadab's comments. "Those were unwanted comments, and most of the players had played with me. In fact, I am also one of them who had not won an ICC event, but we had won several big matches for Pakistan, Tests and ODIs," Saqlain told www.telecomasia.net.

Another former player, Kamran Akmal, said Shadab's comments were unwanted. "Saying such words against former players warrants caution," Kamran was quoted as saying in the report.

Pakistan team management has been cautious about sending players for pre- and post-match comments. They did not give any players for two days before the all-important India match.

When Usman Tariq came for Namibia's pre-match media talk, the media manager stopped him from answering a question on why he (Tariq) was used late in the India match when he was brought in the 11th over. "Tariq will not answer this as head coach Mike Hesson has answered this question after the India game," media manager Naeem Gillani was quoted as saying in the report.

Pakistan take on New Zealand in their first Super Eight game in Colombo on Saturday. They also face England in Pallekele (February 24) and Sri Lanka at the same venue four days later.

--IANS

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Chennai, Feb 19 (IANS) Opener Ibrahim Zadran struck an unbeaten 95 -- his second consecutive fifty -- as Afghanistan posted 200/4 in 20 overs against Canada in their final Group D clash of the Men’s T20 World Cup at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday.

Put in to bat first in what is also the final game of Jonathan Trott as their head coach, Afghanistan made a steady start before Canada hit back in the sixth over, as pacer Jaskaran Singh dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Gulbadin Naib in the space of four balls.

Zadran then anchored the innings, finding support from Sediqullah Atal in a 95-run stand off 59 balls for the third wicket. Zadran brought up his second successive fifty of the tournament, while Atal fell in the 16th over for 44 off 32 balls.

Zadran, dropped on 54 by Canada’s Navneet Dhaliwal, capitalised on the reprieve to steer Afghanistan to exactly 200 in a 56-ball vigil at the crease laced with seven fours and five sixes at a strike-rate of 169.64. It’s also the first time Afghanistan have posted a total of 200 in their history of participating in the tournament.

Canada’s bowlers endured a mixed outing, with Jaskaran Singh returning figures of 3-52 and Dilon Heyliger claiming 1-41. Afghanistan’s total looks formidable, leaving Canada with a stiff chase if they are to end their campaign on a high note.

Afghanistan raced to 49 in the Power-play but suffered a wobble when Gurbaz, who had looked dangerous with a flurry of boundaries, perished attempting one shot too many, while Naib was trapped in front by a full delivery that skidded through.

The double blow briefly checked Afghanistan’s momentum, but Zadran, calm and composed, found an able ally in Atal. The pair mixed calculated risk with fluent strokeplay. Atal, who struck seven boundaries in his 44, fell in the 16th over while trying to accelerate, but by then the innings had been firmly stabilised.

Zadran made the most of the reprieve given to him by Dhaliwal, playing his final international game on 54, by unfurling drives, sweeps, and lofted strokes to keep the scoreboard ticking. His innings combined patience with power, and the ability to shift gears in the middle overs ensured Afghanistan never lost sight of a big total.

Canada’s bowlers had moments of control, but their lines and lengths faltered under pressure in the death overs. Afghanistan capitalised by scoring 69 runs in the final five overs, with Zadran ensuring boundaries flowed and set the stage for a gripping second innings.

Brief scores:

Afghanistan 200/4 in 20 overs (Ibrahim Zadran 95 not out, Sediqullah Atal 44; Jaskaran Singh 3-52, Dilon Heyliger 1-41) against Canada

--IANS

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Kolkata, Feb 19 (IANS) With both teams aiming to register their first win of the campaign, Mohammedan Sporting Club will host FC Goa in the first fixture of Match Week 2 of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Friday.

Mohammedan Sporting went down 0-1 to Jamshedpur FC in their season opener. FC Goa, meanwhile, played out a 1-1 draw against debutants Inter Kashi after falling behind and later restoring parity.

Mohammedan SC, under head coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo, fielded an all-Indian squad in their first match and showed defensive discipline and tactical organisation. However, they lacked sharpness in the final third. Back at home, they will look to convert effort into points in front of their supporters.

Addressing the team's struggles in front of goal, Wadoo was candid about the squad's limitations and the tactical adjustments required.

“We are a young and inexperienced side, lacking a quality striker. However, we believe in these young players, and tomorrow they are going to put in their best. We have to create more chances; the improvement needs to happen in the final third. Tomorrow we will play better attacking football,” he said.

He cautioned, however, that the task would not be easy against the visitors. “FC Goa are a quality side. They are going to come hard against us.”

FC Goa arrive in Kolkata seeking improvement after dropping points in their opening fixture. The Super Cup champions, led by the tactical nous of Manolo Márquez, dominated possession against Inter Kashi but were punished for missed chances. With a squad bolstered by a solid Indian core and experienced foreigners, the Gaurs will look to silence the home crowd early.

Addressing the challenge, FC Goa head coach Manolo Márquez said, “Obviously, it will be a difficult game. They are playing without too much pressure, and this can be more dangerous. We know that they will play with a lot of intensity. We need to be equal in this aspect. Maybe we have more quality, but we need to show this quality. If we want to win the game, we need to show it on the pitch.”

On the importance of getting a result, Márquez added, “It is important to remove the zero from the points table as soon as possible. We have a team that should definitely be competitive during all thirteen games.”

The fixture brings together a clash of styles: Wadoo’s disciplined, high-energy defensive block against Márquez’s expansive, possession-based football. With the Black and White Brigade desperate to avoid back-to-back defeats and Goa keen to assert their credentials, the Kishore Bharati Krirangan is set for a fiery encounter.

--IANS

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