Ishan Kishan plays a shot during the T20 World Cup match against Pakistan in Colombo. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson delivered a blunt and telling verdict after his side’s crushing 61-run defeat to India in the T20 World Cup in Colombo, admitting that one fearless innings had effectively decided the contest long before the chase fell apart. Hesson said Kishan’s aggressive approach and rare form proved the decisive difference in the marquee clash, acknowledging that the opener’s brilliance had dismantled Pakistan’s plans on a challenging surface.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“I think he’s fearless. He’s able to score on both sides of the ground. So, he’s not just committed to the leg side. We know he’s incredibly strong there, but he can reverse. So, if you’ve got spin, especially in the power play, it can be a challenge,” Hesson said after the match.

Kishan’s breathtaking 77 off 40 balls powered India to 175 for seven, but more importantly, it broke the backbone of Pakistan’s spin-heavy strategy on a slow Premadasa Stadium pitch. He attacked the slower bowlers with authority, scoring 66 runs off 37 deliveries against spin and forcing Pakistan’s bowlers out of their comfort zone.Hesson admitted that pressure created by Kishan forced his bowlers away from their strengths and ultimately changed the course of the match. He noted that apart from Kishan and a brief contribution from Shivam Dube, scoring was difficult, underlining just how exceptional the knock was. “That certainly was a standout amongst the whole match, really. The way Kishan played took the game away from us,” Hesson said.

Pakistan’s problems deepened in the chase as they collapsed for just 114, never recovering after early wickets. The heavy defeat pushed them to third place in Group A, leaving their qualification hopes dependent on beating Namibia in their final league match.Hesson admitted the loss had hit the team hard emotionally, given the magnitude of the fixture. He said the dressing room was deeply disappointed because the players understood how much the match meant. “We know that it’s a huge event — Pakistan against India. We’ve won five games on the bounce, we’re confident, but today we got outplayed,” he said.Despite the setback, Hesson urged his players to stay composed and respond positively. He emphasised that major tournaments often test teams under pressure and that Pakistan’s challenge now was to trust their decision-making and return stronger. He said the key question was how players reacted when put under pressure, whether they stuck to their basics or moved away from them. According to him, improving that response would be crucial in the matches ahead.

Macclesfield owner Rob Smethurst on piecing his life back together and the Silkmen’s stunning FA Cup run

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Rob Smethurst’s life looked completely different when he took ownership of Macclesfield FC in 2020.

The entrepreneur was battling alcohol dependency when he spotted the club’s Moss Rose stadium listed on property website Rightmove and saw it as a signal to pursue a takeover. More than five years later, he’s living the dream.

The Silkmen produced a stunning upset against FA Cup holders Crystal Palace in the third round in what became the competition’s greatest ever giant-killing. They now have an opportunity to surpass that achievement when they welcome Brentford – presently sitting seventh in the Premier League – in the fourth round.

Under Smethurst’s stewardship, the on-field success has been remarkable. The phoenix club, formed following the demise of Macclesfield Town, has secured consecutive promotions as they get closer to Football League status.

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The transformation has been equally profound for the owner personally. He has now been sober for four years and attributes the decision he took during the Covid-19 pandemic, acquiring the ground and all available assets in October 2020, for helping him rebuild his life.

“I had a drinking addiction with alcohol and I was probably hiding it away from everybody,” said Smethurst, who describes purchasing the club as an impulsive choice following a “four-day mission”.

“It was a real issue. I was drinking an awful lot and really going down the wrong path. I was partying a lot… I pushed my family away and I was having very, very bad and dark days. That was when I was sat at home and I thought, ‘I’ve got to do something different here because this is going to end badly’.

“I nearly died through alcohol and I thought, ‘I’ve got to step up and try and make a difference’. When I saw it on Rightmove, I thought, ‘I’ve got to try and change my life’, and there was no better thing really than to buy a football club to do that.”

The responsibility of running a football club has given Smethurst a sense of purpose he’s never had before. His time is now devoted to meaningful tasks, such as supporting the first team’s ambitions while managing the club’s daily operations.

He believes the acquisition has likely rescued him from a fatal trajectory, while simultaneously offering him a platform to support others battling similar demons, whether addiction, mental health struggles or other challenges.

Smethurst emphasises his availability to anyone at the club seeking assistance, highlighting his role not just as owner but also as a supporter and an integral member of a community that has witnessed its local side resurrect itself and simultaneously boost neighbouring enterprises.

“When you suffer with addiction and myself with ADHD, you’re all over the place,” added Smethurst. “Your head’s constantly looking for the next thing and when you’ve got a football club, there are so many things that happen – within the players, within the management, within all the tactical and technical side of the football and the academies and the Btec programmes that we’ve got.

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“So it’s really kept me grounded and really sort of massively focused on doing something. When you’re on those dark days, you really do need that direction and purpose to keep you focused.”

Looking ahead to the Brentford game, he has taken on an additional responsibility. Property portal Rightmove has appointed him as their Chief Belief Officer, a role he has embraced wholeheartedly.

“Friends, family come back,” he said. “I think that’s the one thing addiction does for most people, it will always push people away.

“Going back to the Rightmove story, [the message] is that if you believe in yourself and you believe in a purpose, it’s really important to take that journey and have a go and don’t be scared of moving forward in life.

“Too many people are afraid to make that next step or they’re too afraid to make a difference, or they might be in a dark place and don’t know how to get out of that.

“So being this Chief Belief Officer for Rightmove, that goes a little bit deeper than just buying a property. It’s actually believing in yourself.”

On the pitch, Macclesfield have been experiencing a dream run that has exceeded even their owner’s wildest expectations. The club has already accumulated nearly £800,000 through prize money and broadcasting revenue, following last season’s progression to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup and this year’s remarkable journey to the fourth round proper.

That windfall is being ploughed back into the club as they pursue their ambitions of climbing through the divisions. John Rooney has taken charge in the dugout following Robbie Savage’s departure for Forest Green. The 35-year-old younger sibling of former England captain Wayne has presided over a magical cup campaign.

Brentford will arrive fresh from a draw with Premier League leaders Arsenal and Smethurst confesses he’s “scared to death” of Keith Andrews’ team but is dreaming of another shock.

“Who knows what’s going to happen but the reality of it is we’ve won our World Cup already,” he said. “So whatever happens in the next round, the boys will go out there, they’ll have fun and I think that that’s all we can ask for is do your best. And if we lose 15, 20-0, who cares? It’s been great fun.”

And what if they manage to pull off the unexpected victory? He said: “I promised the lads that we’d go to Ibiza and that might be upgraded to Vegas. Who knows what will happen?

“But I think no matter what happens, we’ve achieved the impossible, we’re against all odds and, if we can do the David and Goliath story again, one more time, then the celebrations will go into the late morning and for weeks to come.”

If you have been affected by this story, contact We Are With You, a charity that offers free, confidential support to people in England and Scotland who have challenges with drugs, alcohol or mental health.

Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package

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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.

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Ace India batter Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma were spotted leaving Mumbai, captured on camera at the Mumbai Airport. Earlier, on February 12, Kohli was seen arriving in Mumbai, where he posed for pictures with fans and paparazzi.

The following day, images circulated of the couple meeting a few fans in the city. On Monday, February 16, the pair was again spotted at Mumbai Airport as they departed the state following a brief stay.

Watch the clip of the couple below:

Meanwhile, the 37-year-old will next return to action during IPL 2026, which is expected to begin on March 26. In the 2025 season, Kohli experienced his maiden IPL championship as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) claimed the title, defeating the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final under the leadership of Rajat Patidar.

Overall, the right-handed batter remains the leading run-scorer in the tournament’s history, having amassed 8,661 runs in 259 innings at an average of 39.54 and a strike rate of 132.85, including 63 fifties and eight hundreds, with a best of 113 not out against Punjab Kings in the 2016 season.

“Virat Kohli is an absolute king” – Irfan Pathan urges fans to stop comparing Babar Azam with India star amid T20 World Cup 2026

India and Pakistan faced each other in Game 27 of the T20 World Cup 2026 on February 15 in Colombo, with the Men in Blue registering a comprehensive 61-run victory after posting 175. For Pakistan, Babar Azam struggled, scoring just five runs.

Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel after the game, former cricketer Irfan Pathan stated that comparisons between Babar and Kohli should be stopped. He noted that the Delhi-born star has performed in several high-pressure innings against Pakistan, whereas the Men in Green player has not. He said:

“First of all, stop comparing Babar Azam and Virat Kohli. Honestly, no one should be compared to him. Virat Kohli is a legend (Virat Kohli baap aadmi hai), an absolute king. Just look at the innings he has played against Pakistan. Take, for example, the 2022 World Cup. Has Babar Azam ever played such an innings under pressure?”

Meanwhile, the win against their arch-rivals has helped India qualify for the Super 8s.