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‘Nahi hone wala’: Virender Sehwag tears apart Pakistan’s qualification scenario | Cricket News

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'Nahi hone wala': Virender Sehwag tears apart Pakistan’s qualification scenario
Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi celebrates with teammates (AP/PTI)

Former India opener Virender Sehwag has bluntly dismissed Pakistan’s chances of reaching the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2026, stating he does not see Salman Ali Agha’s side pulling off the required miracle.Pakistan are still mathematically alive in the race for the last four, thanks to England’s Super 8 victory over New Zealand in Colombo on Friday. However, their inferior net run rate leaves them with a steep climb. Even if they defeat Sri Lanka, they would only draw level with New Zealand on points unless they secure a massive win to overhaul the Black Caps’ net run rate.

T20 World Cup: Shaheen Shah Afridi press conference after England vs Pakistan

The qualification equation is daunting. If Pakistan bat first and post 160, they must win by at least 65 runs. If they are chasing the same total, they need to finish the job within 13.2 overs to move ahead of New Zealand and seal a semi-final berth.During a discussion on Cricbuzz, when the anchor outlined Pakistan’s scenario if they batted first, Sehwag responded bluntly, “Nahi hone wala. Aage padh (It won’t happen, read further).”When the focus shifted to the possibility of chasing, Sehwag was equally dismissive. “Wo bhi nahi hone wala. (This too won’t happen).”He elaborated further on the show, saying, “It won’t happen, that’s what I was saying. It is not that easy for Pakistan. The prayers might have been accepted for the England-New Zealand match. But the prayers won’t work for Pakistan in the game against Sri Lanka. They have been praying for so long, and it has not worked. So I don’t think this is possible,” Sehwag said further on Cricbuzz.Sehwag added that Pakistan’s only realistic route would involve Sri Lanka playing extremely poorly, effectively handing them the game. He questioned how a team struggling to reach 160 consistently could suddenly chase that target at breakneck speed.“If they somehow qualify, very good. If they score 160 and then win by 60 runs, Sri Lanka would have to play some poor cricket. They would need to be bowled out for 90, which is not possible. Chasing the total down in 13.2 overs is possible, but their batting is not like that,” he added.“Pakistan are anyway not able to score 160, how will they chase the total down in 14 overs? It will be tough,” he added.England have already secured top spot in Group 2 of the Super 8 stage and booked their place in the semi-finals. The remaining qualification spot from the group will be decided between Pakistan and New Zealand.

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Rockets vs. Heat prediction, odds, spread, line, time: 2026 NBA picks for Saturday, Feb. 28

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The Houston Rockets look to win their fourth game in a row when they battle the Miami Heat in a key NBA matchup on Saturday. Houston is coming off a 113-108 win at Orlando on Thursday, while Miami dropped a 124-117 decision at Philadelphia that same night. The Rockets (37-21), who are second in the Southwest Division, are 17-14 on the road this season. The Heat (31-29), who are second in the Southeast Division, are 17-11 on their home floor. Jabari Smith (ankle) is out for Houston, while Miami will be without Nikola Jovic (back) and Norman Powell (groin).

Tipoff from Kaseya Center in Miami is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. The Heat lead the all-time series 42-34, including wins in nine of the last 10 meetings. The Rockets are 3.5-point favorites in the latest Rockets vs. Heat odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 225.5. Before making any Heat vs. Rockets picks, check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

New users can target the DraftKings promo code, which offers $200 in bonus bets if your first $5+ bet wins:

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered Week 19 on a sizzling 38-18 roll on top-rated NBA spread picks dating back to last season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

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Now, the model has simulated Rockets vs. Heat 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NBA picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA odds and NBA betting lines for Heat vs. Rockets:

Rockets vs. Heat spread:    

Houston -3.5 at DraftKings    

Rockets vs. Heat over/under:    

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225.5 points

Rockets vs. Heat money line:    

Houston -148, Miami +124

Rockets vs. Heat picks:    

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See picks at SportsLine

Rockets vs. Heat streaming:

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New users can also target the latest Underdog promo code CBSSPORTS2, good for $75 in fantasy bonus entries when you play $5 in select states.

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Top Rockets vs. Heat predictions

After 10,000 simulations of Rockets vs. Heat, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (225.5). The Over has hit in five of the past eight head-to-head matchups between the teams. The Over has hit in each of the past three Houston games, and in four of the last five Miami games. The Rockets are 5-5 against the spread in their last 10 games. The Heat, meanwhile, are 6-4 ATS in their last 10.

The SportsLine model is projecting the Rockets’ Kevin Durant to score 26.8 points on average and be one of five Houston players to score 12.5 or more points. The Heat’s Tyler Herro, meanwhile, is projected to have 19.8 points as five Miami players score 10.7 points or more. The teams are projected to combine for 233 points.

How to make Heat vs. Rockets picks

The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s NBA picks

So who wins Heat vs. Rockets, and which side of the spread hits well over 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Rockets vs. Heat spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.

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Lionel Messi tackled by fan during Inter Miami match in Puerto Rico

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Soccer legend Lionel Messi was tackled to the ground during a friendly in Puerto Rico on Thursday.

It happened around the 88th minute of an exhibition tour match. Several fans jumped onto the pitch at Juan Ramón Loubriel stadium. Messi’s team, Inter Miami, was playing Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle in Bayamón when a fan ran to the center circle and grabbed Messi by the waist before both were pulled down by a security guard.

Messi appeared to be unharmed. The Argentine star immediately got up and walked to another part of the pitch.

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A fan is chased

A fan is chased by security guards after jumping onto the pitch to greet Lionel Messi during a friendly game between Independiente del Valle and Inter Miami on Feb. 26, 2026, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  (Leopoldo Smith/Getty Images)

Messi’s security guard situation has been a subject of fan fascination for years, especially after he came to the U.S. to join Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami. 

His main bodyguard, Yassine Chueko, has gone viral in previous years for hovering alertly over Messi while the star was playing soccer. However, in 2025, Inter Miami changed Chueko’s role to prevent him from being on the field to guard Messi from pitch invaders. 

Chueko expressed concern and frustration over the decision, warning it could result in Messi getting tackled.

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Lionel Messi's bodyguard

Lionel Messi’s bodyguard took down overzealous fans. (Getty Images)

“They don’t allow me to be on the field anymore,” the bodyguard said in an interview with social media channel House of Highlights.

“I was in Europe for seven years, working for Ligue 1 and the Champions League, and only six people invaded the pitch. I came to the USA, and in just 20 months, 16 people have already done so. There’s a huge problem here. I’m not the problem. Let me help Messi.”

An Inter Miami team spokesperson previously told ESPN it was a club decision, not MLS’, to not have Cheuko on the sidelines. However, Cheuko remains an employee of the club and part of the security detail, and escorts Messi daily.

Now, at the start of 2026, a pitch invader has successfully reached Messi on the field and brought the 38-year-old superstar to the ground, in Cheuko’s absence. 

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Thursday’s match was originally scheduled for Feb. 13, but was postponed because Messi felt discomfort in his leg during the previous exhibition match against Barcelona SC of Ecuador.

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A fan is detained by security guards

A fan is detained by security guards after jumping onto the field to greet Lionel Messi, during a friendly game between Independiente del Valle and Inter Miami on Feb. 26, 2026, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  (Leopoldo Smith/Getty Images)

Santiago Morales and Messi scored in the 16th and 70th minutes respectively to give Inter Miami a 2-1 win.

Miami, which started its MLS season with a 3-0 loss to LAFC, faces Orlando City next Sunday.

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Champions League: PSG set for Chelsea rematch, Real Madrid face Manchester City showdown

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Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) were handed a blockbuster tie against Chelsea in Friday’s Champions League Round of 16 draw. The draw offers PSG a measure of revenge, months after the Parisians fell to the London side in the 2025 Club World Cup final. Elsewhere, a heavyweight showdown awaits as Real Madrid take on Manchester City.

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Floyd Mayweather names the greatest fighter of all time after him: “He’s a legend”

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Having adopted the moniker “The Best Ever,” Floyd Mayweather Jr. unsurprisingly considers himself the greatest fighter of all time, but when naming athe second best, he chose a man he describes as a “legend.”

Mayweather became boxing’s fourth five-division world champion during his time in the ring, picking up belts at each weight that he fought at; boxing between super-featherweight and light-middleweight.

Over the course of his career, the Michigan-born fighter trumped the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya and Juan Manuel Marquez, all whilst maintaining his fabled undefeated record and rarely taking any real damage.

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In 2017, after a lucrative showdown with UFC superstar Conor McGregor, Mayweather hung up the gloves with a flawless 50-0 record, walking away from the sport as one of the greatest pound-for-pound figures of all time – in his eyes, in top spot.

Speaking to Fox Sports, Mayweather discussed which fighters he believed to be closest to him in the all-time rankings. He named Panamanian icon Roberto Duran as boxing’s second best, appreciating his efforts to move up from lightweight and dethrone welterweight ruler Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980.

“Duran number 2. [He was] unbelievable. He was the guy that came from lightweight and beat Sugar Ray Leonard. I love that guy, he is a legend.”

Astonishingly, Mayweather is now scheduled for a professional comeback, as he rematches Manny Pacquiao at The Sphere in Las Vegas on Saturday, September 9.

Before that, the 49-year-old will take on Mike Tyson in a bizarre exhibition bout in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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NBA roundup: Thunder emerge with scrappy OT win over Nuggets

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NBA: Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City ThunderFeb 27, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes up for a basket in front of Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) during the fourth quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Chet Holmgren produced 15 points and a career-high 21 rebounds and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 36 points in his return from injury, lifting the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 127-121 victory over the visiting Denver Nuggets on Friday.

Gilgeous-Alexander, playing his first game since sustaining an abdominal strain on Feb. 3, helped the Thunder dig out of an early 16-point deficit.

In overtime, though, Gilgeous-Alexander remained on the bench. It didn’t matter, as Alex Caruso continued his strong play from the end of regulation. He finished with 12 points.

Denver’s Jamal Murray hit a trio of 3-pointers in the final 30 seconds to finish with 39 points. Nikola Jokic finished with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists while teammate Christian Braun also scored 23.

Pistons 122, Cavaliers 119 (OT)

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Jalen Duren scored 33 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as host Detroit rallied from a nine-point deficit late in regulation to win in overtime against Cleveland.

Cade Cunningham supplied 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists before fouling out in regulation for the Pistons, who have won seven of their past eight. Ausar Thompson had 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Jarrett Allen’s 25 points and nine rebounds led the Cavaliers, who have lost three of the past four. Cleveland played without its starting backcourt, Donovan Mitchell (groin) and James Harden (thumb).

Celtics 148, Nets 111

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Nikola Vucevic had 28 points and 11 rebounds in 25 minutes as Boston pulled away in the second half for a victory over visiting Brooklyn.

The Celtics, who had a six-point lead midway through the third quarter, outscored the Nets 82-54 in the second half. Jaylen Brown logged 28 points, seven rebounds and nine assists for Boston, which hit 66.7% of its field-goal attempts while earning its 10th win in 12 games.

Michael Porter Jr. led Brooklyn with 18 points. Danny Wolf scored 16 as the Nets dropped their seventh game in a row.

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Grizzlies 124, Mavericks 105

Cam Spencer scored 25 points and Olivier-Maxence Prosper added 16 points and a career-high 10 rebounds — his first career double-double — as visiting Memphis handed Dallas its seventh straight home loss.

Scotty Pippen Jr. chipped in with 15 points for the Grizzlies, who snapped a three-game losing streak. GG Jackson and Jaylen Wells had 12 points each.

Brandon Williams amassed 16 points and eight rebounds for the Mavericks, who have lost 12 of their past 14 games. Daniel Gafford added 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting.

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Knicks 127, Bucks 98

Jalen Brunson scored 22 of his game-high 27 points in the first quarter, helping visiting New York secure a victory over Milwaukee.

OG Anunoby added 24 points and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds for New York, which shot 21-for-42 (50%) on 3-point attempts. Landry Shamet scored 15 points, while Josh Hart had 12 and Mikal Bridges and Mohamed Diawara scored 10 apiece.

Myles Turner led Milwaukee with 19 points, followed by Kyle Kuzma with 17 and Bobby Portis with 14. Ryan Rollins scored 13, while Kevin Porter Jr. finished with 11 points and 10 assists for the Bucks, who had won eight of their previous 10 games.

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–Field Level Media

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NHL Highlights (Feb. 27)

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NHL Highlights (Feb. 27)

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So what are you doing tomorrow night?

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Bayley is arguably one of the most talented WWE stars on the current roster. The former Women’s Champion is widely regarded as a locker room leader. She recently received a message from a 14-time WWE champion.

A fan recently posted an old clip featuring Bayley and Charlotte Flair. The Queen responded to the post and wrote that she was the 36-year-old RAW Superstar’s favorite. The former Hugger reacted to The Queen’s tweet, writing, “Tequila goes nicely with Ben & Jerry’s.” This led Flair to ask the Grand Slam Champion whether she was free tomorrow.

“So what are you doing tomorrow night???” Flair wrote.

You can check out Flair’s tweet below.

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The Queen has won 14 world titles in WWE. She has held the Women’s Championship 13 times and the Divas Title once.


WWE icon picked Bayley as her dream opponent

In an interview with ESPN, AJ Lee was asked to name her dream opponent in the Stamford-based promotion. The Black Widow said a bout against Bayley would be a “dream match”.

Lee added that she and The Role Model last locked horns when she was the Divas Champion. The WWE icon concluded by saying that she would love to find out how a match between her and the RAW Superstar would unfold at this stage of their careers.

“My dream match would be Bayley. I think I’ve gotten to have like one match with her way back in the day when I had the Divas Title. So it would be really cool to see who we both are now, and get my hands on her in the ring,” she said.

For now, The Black Widow is all set to square off with Becky Lynch for the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship tonight at Elimination Chamber 2026. That said, it will be interesting to see what plans Triple H and the creative team have in store for The Role Model as the Stamford-based promotion gets closer to WrestleMania 42.

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