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T20 World Cup 2026: ‘In the name of surgery…’: Shahid Afridi blasts Pakistan selectors for dropping Babar Azam & Co. | Cricket News

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'In the name of surgery…': Shahid Afridi blasts Pakistan selectors for dropping Babar Azam & Co.
Shahid Afridi and Babar Azam (Agency Photos)

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has strongly criticised Pakistan’s cricket selectors after the national team lost the ODI series 2–1 to Bangladesh national cricket team. The defeat came shortly after Pakistan’s disappointing campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, increasing pressure on the team’s management and decision-makers.Bangladesh sealed the series with an 11-run win in the deciding match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

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Afridi publicly blames Pakistan selection committee

Following the defeat, Afridi publicly blamed the selection committee for the team’s struggles. Speaking in a video shared on social media, he questioned their decisions and leadership. “You saw the performances in the 2026 T20 World Cup, and after that we also lost the Bangladesh series 2–1. In my opinion, the selection committee deserves criticism. All of you in the committee have played so much cricket, yet you still don’t seem to have the idea of who should be the captain for which format,” Afridi said.He also criticised what he called excessive experimentation with young players. “You keep making too many decisions in the name of ‘surgery’. What you are doing is picking youngsters and players who have barely played a few first class matches. Your domestic cricket is not even of that standard that it can consistently produce players ready to secure a place in the Pakistan team,” he added.Afridi further claimed that experienced players with good ODI records had been unfairly pushed aside. While he has not mentioned any names, it is somewhat clear that he was hinting at players like Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, who were dropped from Pakistan’s squad for the Bangladesh series. “The senior players who actually deserved their place even if they didn’t have strong T20 performances had very good records in ODIs. But in the name of ‘surgery’, you sidelined those experienced players despite their solid ODI performances,” he stated.He concluded by arguing that the selectors’ strategy lacks direction and could destabilise the team. “Instead, you brought in youngsters who have only played a few domestic and first-class matches. The standard of domestic cricket is not high enough, and those players are not ready to come straight into the Pakistan team and cement their place. You keep handing out Pakistan caps again and again, this is not surgery. If anything, the real surgery should be done on the selection committee,” he said.

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Bangladesh beat Pakistan to win three-match series 2-1

Batting first, Bangladesh put up a solid total of 290 for 5 in 50 overs. The innings began strongly with an opening stand between Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan. While Saif scored 36 runs, Tanzid delivered a standout performance with his maiden ODI century, scoring 107 runs with six fours and seven sixes. Later contributions from Litton Das (41) and an unbeaten 48 from Towhid Hridoy helped Bangladesh reach a competitive total.Pakistan’s chase began poorly as both openers were dismissed within the first two overs, leaving the team at 2 for 2. Despite the early setback, Salman Ali Agha fought back with an impressive century, scoring 106 from 98 balls to keep Pakistan in the contest. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi added 37 runs, while debutants Saad Masood (38) and Ghazi Ghori (29) showed some promise. Abdul Samad also chipped in with 34, but Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 279, falling short of the target.Bangladesh’s bowling played a key role in sealing the victory. Taskin Ahmed led the attack with four wickets, while Mustafizur Rahman took three. Earlier in the match, Pakistan bowler Haris Rauf had been the most successful for his side, claiming three wickets.

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Who makes BBC pundits' Six Nations team of the tournament?

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BBC Sport pundits John Barclay and Sam Warburton picks for their teams of the tournament for the 2026 Six Nations.

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WWE’s Bayley talks what Women’s Intercontinental Championship means for division

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WWE’s women’s division received two new championships to fight for in 2024 when the Intercontinental and United States Championships were introduced to the fray.

It had been a long time coming for the superstars of the women’s roster as competitors like Zelina Vega and Booker T advocated for the mid-card titles in the weeks and months ahead of their introductions.

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Bayley takes on Sol Ruca

Bayley in action against Sol Ruca during Saturday Night’s Main Event at Capital One Arena on December 13, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Image)

More than a year after the Women’s Intercontinental Championship was introduced, Bayley has her sights set on the strap with an upcoming match against AJ Lee, who won the title against Becky Lynch. Lee vowed to be a fighting champion and Bayley won a women’s gauntlet match to set up the “Monday Night RAW” showdown.

“It just means more opportunity, for one,” Bayley told Fox News Digital. “But I also think it means that Triple H (Paul Levesque) has total trust in our division and I think this is the strongest the division’s ever been and there’s just so much need for more. There could only be so many women going after the women’s championship and then the tag titles. There’s so many of us, and there’s so many girls in NXT that can be at the top with those titles.”

WWE STAR BAYLEY OPENS UP ABOUT LONG-AWAITED MATCH AGAINST AJ LEE: ‘UNIVERSE WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS’

Paul "Triple H" Levesque addresses the crowd during Wrestlepalooza on September 20, 2025.

Paul “Triple H” Levesque addresses the crowd during Wrestlepalooza at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on September 20, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  (Michael Marques/WWE via Getty Images)

Bayley recalled WWE’s Chief Content Officer and wrestling legend Paul “Triple H” Levesque gave her a heads up that a new title could be coming when the new men’s intercontinental belt was showcased.

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“I remember when they revealed the new (men’s) intercontinental title. I forget what it was, but I remember looking at Hunter (Levesque) and I’m like, ‘Dang, we need one of those.’ And we like, ‘Just wait.’ And I was blown away. And then we got the (women’s) IC title and we got the (women’s) United States title like months after that. So yeah, I just think it just shows how strong our division is right now and how much trust there is in us.”

Now, Bayley is preparing for a match nearly 13 years in the making for a title that wasn’t even in the glimmer of anyone’s eye on the roster, let alone the women’s roster, the last time she squared off against Lee.

Bayley wins the Gaunlet match

Bayley celebrates her win with Lyra Valkyria after the Woman’s Gauntlet Match during Monday Night RAW at Climate Pledge Arena on March 9, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.  (Meg Oliphant/WWE via Getty Images)

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Should Bayley win the match, she would become the fifth different women’s intercontinental champion. Lynch has held the title twice. Lyra Valkyria and Maxxine Dupri have also held the title.

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Yankees pitcher deals with spider scare at spring training

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For some people, spiders are no joke.

Arachnophobia affects between 2.7-6.1% of people and is one of the most common anxiety disorders, according to the National Institutes of Health. The wolf spider, garden spider and the house spider are most common in Tampa, Florida.

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Cam Schlittler on the mound

New York Yankees starting pitcher Cam Schlittler throws a pitch during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays  at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 6, 2026. (Kim Klement Neitzel/Imagn Images)

It’s unclear if New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler deals with the fear, but he made sure that the insect was taken care of before a spring training game.

Schlittler called security to get a spider out of his locker before the team took on the Detroit Tigers, according to the YES Network. Schlittler didn’t pitch in the game as the Yankees fell to the Tigers, 12-1.

“A spider was successfully extracted from my locker today. Best security team in the league!” he wrote on X.

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Cam Schlittler takes on the Orioles

New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler throws a second inning pitch against Baltimore at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Sept. 21, 2025. (Tommy Gilligan/Imagn Images)

The 25-year-old Massachusetts native pitched in 14 games for the Yankees in 2025. He had a 2.96 ERA with 84 strikeouts. He had 12 strikeouts in Game 3 of the American League wild-card series against the Boston Red Sox, which elevated his popularity back in October.

The young pitcher has started two games in spring training this year. He has a 1.50 ERA and 10 strikeouts.

When everyone is healthy, Schlittler is set to rejoin a rotation with Max Fried, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon for the 2026 season.

Cam Schlittler on the mound against the Jays

New York pitcher Cam Schlittler throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during Game 4 of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium on Oct. 8, 2025. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

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New York finished 94-68 last season and was just behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the American League East title.

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Report: NBA taking step toward expansion in Seattle, Las Vegas

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The NBA could be headed west.

A vote to explore adding expansion teams in Las Vegas and Seattle will occur at the Board of Governors meetings later in March, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Monday.

The franchises would aim begin play in the 2028-29 season, and there is “momentum” toward approval on bids for the teams that could reach $10 billion, per Charania.

Expansion would still require one more vote later this year to finalize the move to 32 teams.

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In both voting rounds, 23 of 30 team governors must vote in favour in order for the motions to pass.

The NBA has not expanded since 2004, when the then-Charlotte Bobcats joined the league.

Seattle had an NBA team, the SuperSonics, in town from 1967 to 2008 before the franchise was purchased and relocated to Oklahoma City, where it became the Thunder.

Las Vegas has never had an NBA franchise, though the NHL and NFL both added teams in the Nevada city in recent years. Las Vegas hosts the NBA’s annual Summer League.

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Jessie Buckley’s acceptance speech explored as she wins Best Actress for Hamnet

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Jessie Buckley won the Best Actress award at the Oscars 2026 for her role in Hamnet. She played the role of Agnes Shakespeare, wife of William Shakespeare, in the adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel.

This was her second nomination at the Oscars, having competed for the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in The Lost Daughter in 2022. However, Sunday marked her first win, and she also became the first Irish person to win the Best Actress Award at the Oscars.

After the Oscars win, Jessie Buckley expressed her gratitude towards her co-actors and everyone involved in the making of Hamnet. She also thanked her family, saying:

“Thank you so much. This is…this is really something. Thank you to the incredible women that I stand beside; I am inspired by your art and your heart, and I want to work with every single one of you. To the producers who created this ship for us to stand in, and my shipmates for life—Hilda, Jessica, Lindsey, Zack—none of this is possible without you.”

She thanked her husband, Freddie Sorensen, and their daughter, whom they welcomed in December last year, saying:

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“You, Fred, I love you man. I love you; you’re the most incredible dad. You’re my best friend, and I want to have 20,000 more babies with you, I do. I do! And Isla, my little girl who is eight months, who has absolutely no idea what’s going on and is probably dreaming of milk, but this is kind of a big deal, and I love you and I love being your mom, and I can’t want to discover life beside you.”

Buckley further expressed gratitude to Maggie O’Farrell and the film’s screenwriters. She thanked them for the role of Agnes and shared how it helped her explore mothership even further. She concluded her speech by saying:

“It’s Mother’s Day in the U.K. today, so I would like to dedicate this to the beautiful chaos of a mother’s heart. We all come from a lineage of women who continue to create against all odds. Thank you for recognizing me in this role. This is the greatest honor. I can’t even believe it.”

Apart from Oscars, Buckley’s performance in Hamnet has also earned nominations at the Baftas, Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice, and Actor awards this year.

Also Read: From One Battle After Another to Sinners, complete list of all 2026 Oscars winners


Jessie Buckley spoke about women who’ve inspired her last year

2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Mark Guiducci - Red Carpet - Source: Getty2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Mark Guiducci - Red Carpet - Source: Getty
2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Mark Guiducci – Red Carpet – Source: Getty

Elle named Jessie Buckley as one of its Women in Hollywood honorees in November last year. As the outlet celebrated her journey and achievements, the actress also spoke about how she has been inspired by many other women in the industry. She said:

“Frances McDormand, Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, and Laura Dern. What they play is so full. They’re not playing something to appeal. They’re playing a life that is complex and rich and uncomfortable and challenging and provocative.”

She said that these women taught her to be “ruthless” and “know herself”. Jessie Buckley has also starred in the likes of Wicked Little Letters and The Bride!

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Meanwhile, Hamnet was released in November last year. It shares the story of William Shakespeare and Agnes’s son dying at a young age, which led to the writer’s iconic play, Hamlet.


Also Read: From Autumn Durald Arkapaw to Jessie Buckley: All 2026 Oscar wins (and snubs) that made history