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Why today’s match could define Pakistan’s T20 World Cup fate | Cricket News

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Why today's match could define Pakistan’s T20 World Cup fate
Pakistan cricket team (AP/PTI)

Pakistan’s T20 World Cup campaign has reached a critical juncture. A win against Namibia in their final league fixture on Wednesday is non-negotiable if Salman Agha’s men are to keep their Super 8 hopes alive. Anything less, and their tournament ends prematurely.The pressure has mounted quickly. After bold claims that this was a stronger outfit than the one that faltered against India in the Asia Cup, Pakistan suffered a familiar 61-run defeat on Sunday. While their clashes with India in the 2022 and 2024 T20 World Cups were tight, they still fell short. Since the Asia Cup, India have now registered four comfortable wins on the trot, reinforcing Pakistan’s struggles in marquee encounters.

What will Team India do today in Ahmedabad? Practice timing, Playing XI, press conference and more

Scrutiny has intensified around senior players Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi. Shaheen failed to control the game in the PowerPlay or at the death, returning figures of 1 for 31 in two overs. Babar’s issues against spin continue to surface — his strike-rate against spin since returning to the T20I side stands at 101.70 — raising questions about balance and intent in the middle order.Selection dilemmas loom. Salman Mirza and Fakhar Zaman are in contention should the management opt for changes. Pakistan’s heavy reliance on spin — 13, 16 and 18 overs across three games — also reflects a side still searching for the right combination.Namibia, though eliminated, are not without motivation. With the 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon as co-hosts, they are keen to gather momentum. For Pakistan, though, the equation is simple: win or go home.In the other fixture, India face the Netherlands in the night game. Having already secured qualification for the Super 8s with three wins from three matches, India will view this contest as an opportunity to fine-tune combinations and tick a few remaining boxes.Abhishek Sharma is yet to get going in this T20 World Cup, and the team management will be keen for their No. 1 batter to spend valuable time at the crease ahead of the knockout stage. Getting runs under his belt could prove crucial in the business end of the tournament.There could also be changes in the bowling department. Kuldeep Yadav might make way for Arshdeep Singh, who was included as an extra spinner against Pakistan. With qualification already secured, India may use this match to test their bench strength and settle on the most balanced XI for the Super 8s.

Today T20 World Cup matches – Tuesday, 18 February

Match Fixture Venue Time (IST)
Match 1 South Africa vs USA Delhi 11:00 AM
Match 2 Pakistan vs Namibia Colombo 3:00 PM
Match 3 India vs Netherlands Ahmedabad 7:00 PM

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Alexandra Eala vs Sorana Cirstea preview, head-to-head, odds, prediction & betting tips

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18 February 2026

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Match Details

Fixture: Alexandra Eala vs Sorana Cirstea

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Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026

Tournament: Dubai Tennis Championships

Round: Third Round

Category: WTA 1000

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Venue: Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Surface: Hard (outdoor)

Prize Money: $4,088,211 (total prize pool)

Live Telecast: USA – Tennis Channel | UK – Sky Sports | Canada – TSN, TVA Sports, DAZN, WTA TV

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Alexandra Eala vs Sorana Cirstea preview

Eala at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships - Day Three - Source: GettyEala at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships - Day Three - Source: Getty
Eala at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships – Day Three – Source: Getty

Alexandra Eala will take on Sorana Cirstea in the third round of the Dubai Open on Thursday.

Eala has had a hectic season so far. After a semifinal appearance in Auckland, she reached the quarterfinals in Abu Dhabi and Manila. The Filipino also participated in the Australian Open, but lost to Alycia Parks in the first round.

Eala entered Dubai after a first-round exit in Doha. She started her campaign by cruising past Hailey Baptiste and Jasmine Paolini in the initial few rounds. The 20-year-old defeated Paolini in one hour and 40 minutes, 6-1, 7-6(5).

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Cirstea at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships - Day Three - Source: GettyCirstea at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships - Day Three - Source: Getty
Cirstea at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships – Day Three – Source: Getty

Meanwhile, Sorana Cirstea has made a good start to the season. After a third-round exit in Brisbane, she reached the second round in Melbourne and clinched the title in Cluj-Napoca. The Romanian defeated Emma Raducanu in the final, 6-0, 6-2.

Cirstea started her campaign in Dubai with brilliant wins over Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Linda Noskova in the first two rounds. She defeated Noskova in one hour and 10 minutes, 6-1, 6-4. The 35-year-old has yet to drop a set this week.

Alexandra Eala vs Sorana Cirstea head-to-head

Cirstea leads the head-to-head against Eala 1-0. She defeated the Filipino in the 2024 Madrid Open.

Alexandra Eala vs Sorana Cirstea odds

Player Name Moneyline Handicap Bets Total Games
Alexandra Eala +190 +1.5 (-140) Under 20.5 (-105)
Sorana Cirstea -250 -1.5 (-105) Over 20.5 (-140)

BetMGM sources all the odds.

Alexandra Eala vs Sorana Cirstea prediction

Eala has been locked in and kept herself busy since the start of the season. The Filipino will be brimming with confidence after taking out the sixth seed in the previous round.

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Meanwhile, Cirstea has announced her retirement from tennis at the end of this year. The Romanian showed her class to win in Cluj-Napoca and will be tough to beat in the Dubai Open this year.

Eala will bring her top-spin heavy groundstrokes and dynamic movement to the fore. On the other hand, Cirstea will look to stamp her authority from the baseline and outsmart her opponent on the court.

The Filipino will be up against an experienced opponent, who seems to be at the top of her game this week. She has the pedigree to come out on top, but may go down fighting in the third round.

Pick: Cirstea to win in three sets.

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Alexandra Eala vs Sorana Cirstea betting tips

Tip 1: Match to have more than 20 games.

Tip 2: Eala to save more than five break points.