Nduka Odizor is widely regarded as the most successful tennis player Nigeria has ever produced.
Odizor reached a career high ATP singles ranking of world No. 52 and No. 20 in doubles in 1984, figures that remain the highest ever achieved by a Nigerian player. During the 1980s, he competed regularly on the ATP Tour at a time when very few African players were present at the top level.
He is also the only Nigerian to have played in the main draw of all four Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. That achievement still stands unmatched.
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All through his career, Odizor spent several seasons inside the top 100, reached ATP finals in singles and doubles, and recorded wins against established tour players. His performances helped raise Nigeria’s profile in international tennis.
After retiring, Odizor continued being involved in the sport through coaching and player development, continuing to contribute to tennis in Nigeria.
Decades later, his records remain intact, and his career is still the benchmark for Nigerian tennis.
The mistake may be to see it through the lens of the continental superpowers. The Champions League’s knockout phase play-offs could perhaps do with a punchier name than Uefa’s unwieldy tag. For those who assume their destination is much deeper into the tournament, it can seem a punishment, an unwanted extra couple of fixtures jammed into February.
Yet for many of its participants, it is an opportunity. Under the previous format, some were unaccustomed to Champions League football after Christmas. Those seeded third or fourth faced an uphill task to qualify from their pool. The fact that there were only 16 slots available in the knockout round, and the reality that most went to clubs from the same four domestic leagues, restricted the chances for everyone else.
While five English clubs secured the top-eight finishes to skip the recent addition to the Champions League schedule, now it is not about them anyway. It is about Qarabag and Bodo/Glimt, who have overachieved to get this far, and Benfica who progressed in remarkable fashion. Uefa can note that the 16 teams in action come from 11 different countries, that they have expanded the map; their critics might argue that those at home next week, and likelier to progress, are all from Spain, Italy, France, England or Germany.
The competition may have more predictability than last year, when the first 36-team table produced some incongruous sights – Lille above Real Madrid, Atalanta above Bayern Munich, PSV above PSG, Brest above Manchester City – but not as much as feared. The knockout phase play-offs in their sophomore season features both of last season’s finalists, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, plus the competition’s most successful club ever, in Real Madrid.
Of the 16 clubs playing now, a dozen should see it as a reward. A quartet could have regrets they are not skipping this round: Real, who only needed a draw against Benfica to get a top-eight finish; Atletico Madrid, who lost at home to Bodo/Glimt last month; PSG, who only took two points from their last three matches, against Athletic Bilbao, Sporting CP and Newcastle; and Inter, who won their first four games but lost the next three. For each, it could, and probably should, have been different.
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Newcastle United joined PSG in the play-offs (AFP/Getty)
For most of those placed between ninth and 24th, the table either had a realism about their place in the pecking order or showed a capacity to surprise supposed superiors. Benfica did it most dramatically three weeks ago: the goalscoring goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin’s 98th-minute header took them through at Marseille’s expense and earns them an immediate reunion with Real. For Jose Mourinho, it is a rematch with Alvaro Arbeloa, once his right-back, now a rookie manager; the master outwitting the apprentice or the Portuguese’s farewell to the Champions League?
It is arguably the most eye-catching tie of the round; there may be nothing as obviously seismic as Real and City, the previous two winners, clashing at this stage last year, but that is in part because none of the biggest of guns finished between 17th and 24th.
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Real Madrid have to contend with two extra games after dropping into the play-offs (AP)
But Inter are off to the Arctic Circle to face Bodo, fresh from their double of beating City and Atletico. A first leg in Istanbul comes laced with peril for Juventus as they meet Galatasaray. Eddie Howe admitted Newcastle did not want the lengthy trek to Azerbaijan after they drew Qarabag. On geographical grounds, he would have preferred Monaco. They instead are paired with PSG, who got a 10-0 aggregate thrashing of Ligue 1 rivals last year when they demolished Brest.
The tie that looks most even, and where there is the greatest reason to pronounce the side who finished lower in the standings and who are away in the second leg the favourites, is between the 2024 finalists Borussia Dortmund and Atalanta. They were 17th and 15th in the standings, separated by only two points. Dortmund scored nine more goals and had arguably the harder fixture list.
Atalanta can also testify to the drama of the new phase. A reason why Uefa are entitled to view the inaugural knockout play-off phase as a considerable success came in the games last year. Bayern required a 94th-minute goal by Alphonso Davies to deny Celtic extra time at the Allianz Arena and perhaps avert a major shock.
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Jose Mourinho will meet his former club Real Madrid for a place in the last 16 (AP)
There were arguably still three upsets – even if one resulted in the team that came lower in the league stage losing – and all at the expense of Italian clubs. Juventus were knocked out 4-3 by PSV Eindhoven. AC Milan went out 2-1 to Feyenoord. Atalanta’s elimination was most emphatic, 5-2 on aggregate to Club Brugge, and, in terms of the table, the greatest surprise: ninth lost to 24th.
Brugge had only just made it into the play-offs; the celebrations of their supporters in a corner of the Etihad Stadium after their last league match against City showed what a feat that felt to the Belgian club. Perhaps this round was devised with their ilk in mind. Last year, the knockout play-offs still produced the eventual Champions League winners, in PSG. Like Real and Inter, they may imagine a repeat. These two weeks are a final of sorts for Brugge, Benfica, Bodo and Qarabag, yet maybe not the end of their journey around Europe.
The battle to make the NCAA Tournament is in full swing.
Several teams from the Mountain West, Big Ten, and WCC are directly on the Bubble.
At this point, only four programs from the West can realistically be considered locks.
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The rest are one bad loss away from being out of the projected field or out of contention entirely.
Here’s how I view the Top 10 College Basketball Teams in the West with four weeks to go until Selection Sunday.
1. Arizona (23-2, 10-2)
It may sound like a broken record, but the only thing that matters is what happens in March.
Nobody is going to remember a two-game losing streak in February if the Wildcats make the Final Four.
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Even so, the current form of this Arizona team generates concern. The Cats can’t make threes, aren’t rebounding as well, and have multiple players in slumps.
2. Gonzaga (25-2, 13-1)
Gonzaga took care of business against Santa Clara.
The road win over the Broncos re-emphasized that the Zags run the WCC. But under the microscope, the Bulldogs are questionable.
The nonconference resume appears strong, and the metrics are there. Yet, GU was blown out by the only elite team they have played.
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3. BYU (19-6, 7-5)
The season-ending injury to Richie Saunders changes BYU’s season outlook.
Fortunately, there’s a month remaining before the NCAA Tournament begins. That should give Kevin Young some time to adjust his rotations and allow other players to step up.
The Cougars still have the talent to make a run, even if the ceiling is now more like a Sweet 16 appearance.
4. Utah State (22-3, 12-2)
Margins of victory matter. Perceptions matter. Who cares how Penny Hardaway and the Memphis players feel?
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Run it up, that’s what you’re supposed to do. Crushing the Tigers sent a message to the NCAA Selection Committee.
There’s no way this Utah State is anywhere near an 8-seed or 9-seed. If anything, a 5-seed might be about right.
5. Saint Mary’s (23-4, 12-2)
It was a relatively quiet week for Saint Mary’s in the WCC.
The Gaels beat Pepperdine and Pacific, advancing to 12-2 in the Conference and 23-4 overall. Remaining on the right side of the Bubble, the old adage rings true: “No news is good news.”
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With two road games this week, Saint Mary’s can’t afford any missteps.
6. UCLA (17-8, 9-5)
Mick Cronin’s team is dangerously close to missing the NCAA Tournament. Joe Lunardi’s latest projection has UCLA as one of the Last Four In.
The 30-point loss to Michigan shows just how far off this Bruins team is. Facing
Michigan State and Illinois this week, it’s possible that UCLA falls out of the projected field.
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7. USC (18-7, 7-7)
The Trojans lost by seven to Ohio State on the road. The defeat doesn’t end USC’s at-large hopes, but it increases the pressure.
This Wednesday’s game against Illinois is a massive opportunity. If the Trojans can beat the Illini at the Galen Center, a bid to the Big Dance becomes more likely.
A blowout loss, on the other hand, could knock SC out of the projected field.
8. San Diego State (18-6, 12-2)
Directly on the Bubble, San Diego State stayed in contention with a double-digit win over Nevada.
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But, frankly, the victory has already been forgotten and the focus has shifted to GCU on Tuesday. A loss at home to the Lopes would damage SDSU’s at-large chances.
A convincing win, however, might be enough to boost the Aztecs into the projected field.
9. New Mexico (19-6, 10-4)
Beating GCU on their home floor was noteworthy. The victory keeps New Mexico in contention for an at-large bid.
But there’s still plenty of work left to do. The MWC is not getting any respect this year and deservedly so.
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To make the NCAA Tournament, the Lobos might need to either win the conference tournament or make it to the championship game.
10. Santa Clara (22-6, 13-2)
The home loss to Gonzaga was a missed opportunity.
The WCC rarely gets more than one at-large bid, and the Selection Committee is looking for reasons to pack the field with major conference teams.
Even so, Santa Clara is No. 39 in KenPom and No. 42 in the NET. That puts the Broncos right in the mix of at-large contention, although probably on the wrong side of the Bubble.
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Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formula 1 racing as a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports.
Nadal said Alcaraz’s physical edge and current form made him the frontrunner for the title, even while acknowledging the unique challenge posed by Djokovic at Melbourne Park.
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Speaking to host broadcaster Channel Nine, Nadal said Alcaraz’s age, energy and prime condition tilted the balance in his favour. At the same time, he underlined Djokovic’s exceptional ability to rise to the occasion, particularly in Australian Open finals, where the Serb has built a formidable record.
From Nadal’s perspective, the contest represented a classic clash of eras, with Alcaraz carrying the momentum of the new generation and Djokovic continuing to defy age.
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‘Novak is still very competitive’
In a separate interaction with The Melbourne Age, Nadal described it as encouraging for the sport that Djokovic remains competitive against players such as Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner at this stage of his career.
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Nadal suggested Djokovic’s presence at the top reflected his commitment and resilience, adding that longevity at that level should be viewed positively rather than as an anomaly. The Spaniard, who is a year older than Djokovic, indicated that sustained fitness is often the defining factor at that age.
He said Djokovic’s continued success was built on discipline and competitiveness, qualities that have allowed him to remain a central figure in men’s tennis despite the rise of younger challengers.
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Final unfolds as Nadal watches on
As Nadal’s assessment circulated, the final itself remained finely poised. Djokovic had taken the first set, asserting his authority early, while Alcaraz was digging deep in the second to stay in contention.
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Whether Nadal’s prediction would hold true remained to be seen, but his comments captured both the respect Djokovic commands and the expectation surrounding Alcaraz as the leading force of the current generation.
Racing fans can still secure their spot at Cheltenham Festival 2026 with tickets on sale now from £54 – here’s everything you need to know about prices, dates and where to buy
12:57, 16 Feb 2026Updated 12:58, 16 Feb 2026
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The Cheltenham Festival 2026 is fast approaching and racing enthusiasts can book their places now. In under a month, Cheltenham Racecourse will once again welcome four days of racing, refreshments, cuisine and entertainment.
Running from March 10-13, there will be 28 races spanning Champion Day, Ladies Day, St Patrick’s Thursday and Gold Cup Day. Key fixtures include the Unibet Champion Hurdle and the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase.
For racing devotees who haven’t yet purchased their ticket, there remains a wide selection available, ranging from general admission through to more luxurious VIP and hospitality packages. Early bird tickets for the festival became available last year, but attendees can still make savings by securing their ticket in advance.
Here’s everything you need to know about obtaining Cheltenham Festival tickets now.
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Tickets for the Cheltenham Festival 2026 are available now and attendees can dodge the on-the-gate charges by purchasing their tickets beforehand. Official outlets include The Jockey Club, which offers various ticket options for each day of the meeting.
Prices presently begin at £54 per person for the Best Mate Enclosure, positioned directly opposite the main grandstand and next to the finish line. A reserved seat in the Grandstand is priced at £210 per person, offering what’s described as ‘one of the finest views’ in racing.
For those wishing to indulge, VIP and hospitality tickets for each day of the races are currently available at Seat Unique. Prices start from £799 for the Champions Club Restaurant, which includes a four-course meal and complimentary bar, as well as a viewing box with a view of the racecourse.
More luxurious experiences include The Privilege Suite, hosted by football legends Alan Brazil and Ray Parlour. In addition to a club enclosure admission badge, this package offers a VIP hostess service and celebrity tipster, along with food, drinks, and a range of other perks, all for £1,585 per person.
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Some tickets have already surfaced on resale platforms such as viagogo and StubHub, where fans can sell their tickets if they’re unable to attend. Prices fluctuate daily, sometimes significantly higher or lower than face value, but fortunate buyers might stumble upon a bargain.
Cheltenham Festival 2026.
The Cheltenham Festival 2026 kicks off on Tuesday, March 10, and runs until Friday, March 13. Gates open at 10.30am each day of the festival, with the first race starting at 1.20pm and the final one at 5.20pm.
American speedskater Brandon Kim attempted to get Team USA into the finals of the short track 500-meter event at the Winter Olympics on Monday, but was involved in an unfortunate incident.
Kim was racing against the Netherlands’ Jens van ‘t Wout, Ukraine’s Oleh Handei and Uzbekistan’s Daniil Eybog in the seventh heat. As the group was coming around one of the first turns, Kim, Handei and Eybog all crashed. Van ‘t Wout ended up finishing ahead of the three.
Brandon Kim of the United States, Oleh Handei of Ukraine and Daniil Eybog of Uzbekistan crash into the barrier in the heats during the men’s 500 meter short track speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Kim was penalized and did not complete a lap in the race.
The Virginia native was competing in his first Winter Olympics for Team USA. He was a star on the junior circuit as he picked up a bronze in the World Junior Championships in 2017.
Kim was also disqualified from the short track 1,000-meter heats last week. Van ‘t Wout won the gold in the event.
Brandon Kim of the United States, Oleh Handei of Ukraine and Daniil Eybog of Uzbekistan crash in the heats during the men’s 500 meter short track speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Team USA still has hopes to medal in the 500-meter event as Andrew Heo had the fastest time in his heat with a time of 41.136.
Read More About The 2026 Winter Olympics
The Americans have found the podium hard to get to in this year’s Olympics. Going into Monday, Team USA has attained 17 total medals but only five gold.
Brandon Kim of the United States competes in the men’s 1000 meter short track speed skating heats at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Team USA finished with 25 total medals when the 2022 Beijing Olympics came to an end. The team won nine gold, nine silver and seven bronze that year.
“What I really like about this bunch and the entire 24 who I’ve worked with in the last three months is their ability to learn, willing to get better. There are a lot of positives.” – R Sridhar on Sri Lanka players
“The boys are pretty disappointed with the result [against Zimbabwe], but we’ve got no one to blame but ourselves and obviously Zimbabwe played really well.” – Marcus Stoinis
Dec. 22, 2024; Seattle, WA — Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) gets loose during warmups ahead of the team’s Week 16 road game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images.
The NFL season is now officially over. The Minnesota Vikings missed the postseason at 9-8 after going 14-3 the previous year. The Seattle Seahawks just won their first Super Bowl since 2013. Who was Minnesota’s quarterback last season and Seattle’s this season?
It was Sam Darnold.
Many have criticized Minnesota big time this whole season, especially now—certainly not a surprise given how both teams finished.
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The Vikings’ Quarterback Gamble Sparks Debate
Yes, it is very easy to criticize Minnesota for moving on from a quarterback who helped them win 14 games the previous season to start the still unproven J.J. McCarthy. As crazy as it sounds, it was not as bad a decision as it seems.
Minnesota needed to know, sooner or later, whether McCarthy is the answer. Yes, he may never pan out for the franchise or even in the NFL as a whole. He still can, though. Still early to write him off.
Dec 18, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
Staying healthy has been his biggest problem after two seasons. He missed all of his rookie season due to a torn meniscus, which he suffered in the first preseason game. This past season, he missed 7 games due to 3 injuries (ankle, concussion, hand). At the same time, he struggled most of the time on the field, but he played better in his final four games.
Had Minnesota not made it to the Super Bowl with Darnold this past season, there is a very good chance many would have said they should have just started McCarthy on his rookie deal and used the extra cap space elsewhere.
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They had a very active free agency due to the large amount of cap space. Signing Ryan Kelly, Javon Hargrave, and Jonathan Allen all looked like great moves at the time. Neither panned out, but at the time, they were considered great signings. Kelly played well while he was on the field, but missed nine games total due to having three concussions.
They were also able to re-sign Byron Murphy Jr and sign Isaiah Rodgers. Murphy did not have as good a year as he did in 2024, but he still had a good year. Rodgers had a good year.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy at organized team activities (OTAs) in May 2025 from a video shared by the team’s website. Minnesota drafted McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in 2024.
Many would have also wondered how McCarthy would have played, especially given all the weapons he would have had.
Would Minnesota have made it to the Super Bowl with Darnold in 2025? Unlikely. You never know in this league, but it is hard to see how that would have happened. There is a very good chance they would have advanced to the second round of the playoffs and, just maybe, to the NFC Championship Game.
Had they advanced to the Super Bowl, would they have won it? Also hard to have seen as a possibility.
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Seattle overall has a better roster than Minnesota. Darnold also threw 35 touchdowns in 2024 and 25 this past season. His team this past season did better than his team from 2024 despite that. Once again, Seattle has a better roster.
Aug 10, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws a pass against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
If McCarthy pans out, this will not be a bad decision at all, despite Darnold helping his team win the Super Bowl. If he becomes a bust, it will be a bad decision in hindsight, but it still would have made sense at the time, given he was just drafted the year before in hopes that he would someday be the quarterback of the future.
At the moment, Minnesota is $40 million over the salary cap via Over the Cap. McCarthy is due nearly $6 million in 2026, while Darnold is due $37.9 million. They would have had to work that much harder to get under the cap if they re-signed Darnold.
Minnesota is also set to draft 18th overall and will have a third-place schedule in 2026. Maybe both will really benefit them. A year from now, McCarthy could make Minnesota look very good. He then would also enter 2027 still under his rookie deal.
Ali Siddiqui joined Vikings Territory right before the start of the 2020 season. You can follow him on twitter … More about Ali Siddiqui
I was at Trump Doral in April 2024 when Anthony Kim played his first U.S. event in his return to professional golf. So even two years ago. Millions of us remember his golf when he was at the height of his powers. He was brash, fresh, cocky, loaded with style, through the bag and off the course, too. This was in 2008, 2009, 2010. He was the anti-Tiger, for approach, but he was in Tiger’s orbit for pure talent. There was no sign of any of that, on the range at Doral at the LIV event there, for the two of us watching him. His timing was off, his divots were huge, his speed was gone. Once he looked like a trim, fast welterweight. You could barely remember that version of the man. He shot rounds of 76, 81 and 80. I interviewed him after his first round. You could see the years of drug abuse all over his face. His daughter was in his hands and his wife nearby — they were clearly the center of the world. Typing it up, sorrow washed over me. This comeback story was two parts stunt and one part desperation. That was my take.
This is one of the most astonishing comebacks golf has ever seen. After not playing for 12 years? After abusing (by his own candid accounting) his body and mind with a nearly lethal combination of drugs and alcohol?
Ben Hogan winning the 1950 U.S. Open in an 18-hole playoff 16 months after a Greyhound bus all but flattened him is in a totally different category from Kim’s win. Hogan overcame a bad hand that somebody else had dealt him. Kim’s LIV victory has none of the grandeur of Tiger’s win at East Lake at the Tour Championship in 2018. Kim’s win is really a thing unto itself, because he was so far gone, and for so long. But what all three share is the very thing that makes us love golf and sport and really the challenge of life: We have the capacity to rise above our circumstances. We might get there or not, but we can die trying. We can die trying our best. Kim’s best happened to be good enough to beat two of the best golfers in the world. The win is what is getting our attention here, but it’s almost incidental.
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When Kim’s future fell in on him, he had a wife and child and one unlikely path to reclaim some version, some new-and-improved version, of his former life, and that of course was the range, practice rounds and tournament rounds. He had to decide whether to stage his comeback on the PGA Tour, where nothing was promised, or the LIV Golf series, which offered a contract. He went LIV. Greg Norman, the LIV CEO, made the deal himself. In 2024, Kim finished 56th of 57 LIV players. Last year, he finished 55th on a list with 61 names on it. Who would have predicted this?
Well, Norman.
“From the moment we first met, to open our talks, I saw it in his eyes,” Norman said. “He said, `It will happen!’ I feel like a proud dad.
“I always knew if you could shine light on a path of belief, if there was trust and confidence, his God-given ability, drive and desire would spring to life. He had so much talent, but it was buried by poor decisions and directions. He was lost and he admitted it. He owned it. He wanted to change. He knew golf could give him the opportunity he needed to make that change.
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“Then there’s his wife, Emily. She is his rock, there for him at all times, wrapping him with love and foundational support. His savior. And Bella, his daughter and inspiration, driving him on each day to show her the parent idol and patriarch he truly is. This is the greatest golf comeback in history! I’m just proud to be a small part of it.”
Rahm was part of it, too. It’s a measure of his own humanity that he said this in the aftermath of Kim’s win: “In a weird way, as a competitor, I probably shouldn’t say this, but that was a joy to watch. To see that image on 18 of him hugging his wife and daughter, any man with a soul is going to have a soft spot for that. I was almost tearing up.”
Yep. Millions of us would say the same thing.
When Keshad Johnson won the NBA All-Star dunk contest Saturday night, he had a message for the arena that Kim would know well.
“Everybody’s journey is different,” Johnson said. “To all the kids out there, keep dreaming. Have crazy faith. Crazy faith — not just regular faith. Anything can happen, man.”
Spike Lee was seated courtside at the Intuit Dome in Southern California for the NBA All-Star Game, but it was his outfit that caught attention during the event.
Lee wore a Pro-Palestinian look to the festivities in Inglewood, California, as the league put its new format on display, which featured World All-Stars and All-Stars from the U.S. on Team Stars and Team Stripes.
Spike Lee at The 2026 NBA All-Star Game held at the Intuit Dome on Feb. 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.(Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)
The World All-Stars featured Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija. It was the first time an Israeli-born player appeared in an All-Star Game. Avdija wore the Israeli flag on the back of his jersey for the game.
Lee didn’t make any extra statement, but his outfit was enough of a message.
“I feel like when I come to play, I come with the entire nation, and it’s fun to show that it’s possible, even for a small country like us,” he said after the game, via Times of Israel.
While political issues didn’t appear to seep into the game, Houston Rockets star Alperen Sengun was asked about his relationship with Avdija on Saturday. Sengun is Turkish and the relationship between the two countries is far from strong.
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Spike Lee smiles from his courtside seat during the NBA All-Star basketball game Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, in Inglewood, California.(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
“You know, I think that stuff is a lot bigger than ours. We just going to represent our country, here, you know, the best we can. Deni is the same harder worker,” Sengun told reporters. “You know, great guy, great person. One of my good friends in this league.
“And like I said that stuff are a lot bigger than our stuff. We are just here doing what we love, and other stuff is out of our control. And hopefully, you know, of course basketball is the thing hopefully bring everyone love, and stay together, you know, that’s what we are here for. And like I said, the other stuff is out of our control, and hopefully, you know, it’s all got into peace in all world, and that’s all we wanted.”
Deni Avdija speaks during interviews at media day at Intuit Dome on Feb. 14, 2026. (William Liang/Imagn Images)
Afghanistan kept their Super Eights hopes alive with a five-wicket win over UAE on Monday, but qualification is still out of their hands. After the victory, South Africa moved into the Super Eights from Group D with six points from three matches. New Zealand, who have four points from three games, can seal the second spot if they beat Canada in Chennai on Tuesday. In that case, Afghanistan, currently on two points from three matches, will be knocked out even if they defeat Canada in their final group match on February 19 in Chennai.
Axar Patel press conference: ‘We see them as a team, don’t see rivalry’ after India beat Pakistan
Captain Rashid Khan remained hopeful despite the uncertainty. “Hoping for the best. Yes, (we) still have a little bit of hope, we can make it to the next stage and we just need to come up with a positive mindset (against Canada),” Rashid said at the post-match presentation. “Next game, you never know, it’s a T20 game, we’ll have to come up with a good brand of cricket. Even if we don’t make it to the next round, we want to play with the same brand of cricket and make the country and our people proud and happy.” Rashid said he was pleased to get points on the board after the heartbreaking loss to South Africa in a match decided in the second Super Over. “Happy to finish with a win, it’s important to have points in a T20 World Cup. To restrict them (UAE) under 160 was a good effort, we pulled things back, but we didn’t do well in the first 10 overs. That’s been a problem for us in all the games and something we need to work on,” he said. “We know how aggressive he (Rahmanullah Gurbaz) is. He goes out with a positive mindset – it doesn’t always work, but it’s good for the team when he gets going. We’ve quite a lot of experience, Azmat (Azmatullah Omarzai) has played a lot, (Mohammad) Nabi is the most experienced guy in the team. It’s always good to have experience and that’s something most important.” Player of the Match Azmatullah Omarzai, who returned figures of 4/15 from four overs and struck 40 not out off 21 balls, explained his approach. “I was trying to bowl in the hard length and hit the pitch hard. “It was funny, first ball was a wicket, but the ball didn’t didn’t carry. I took four wickets again. That first wicket got the momentum for us. “When I went to bat, I looked at the scoreboard. There were a lot of balls (left) for us. We needed to play straight and rotate the strike and I was speaking to my partner, (to) just play straight and we were waiting for the bad ball. “It was a good game where everyone did really well and everyone did hard work (on the South Africa game), but the result did not work our way, but we came back really well and hope we will do it again in the next match.
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