Suryakumar Yadav remained tight lipped on the question about a potential handshake between India and Pakistan players during their upcoming match
2 min read Last Updated : Feb 14 2026 | 11:23 PM IST
Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav has commented on the conversation about whether the Indian players will be shaking hands with the Pakistan team or not during the pre match press conference for the highly aniticpated T20 World Cup 2026 match in Colombo on February 15 between the two arch rivals. The skipper remained tight lipped on the matter and told the media to ‘wait for 24 hours’ before they could actualy get the answer to the question.
Pakistan also non-committal over handshake talks Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha had the same approach to this question as he too remained non committal on the subject. Talking about the rivalry and the match at hand, Suryakumar Yadav admitted that the India vs Pakistan is more about the occassion despite the fact thet his side will take this match as just another game in the tournament. “It is more about occasion. You can say that it is just another game but isn’t.” Surya said about the match.
Fitness update on Abhishek Sharma Surya also provided a positive update ahead of the high stakes clash as he confirmed that Abhishek Sharma will be back for the important match after missing out on the match against Namibia in New Delhi due to a stomach infection. ‘PAK will have an edge’ Suryakumar Yadav also talked about how Pakistan playing all their games in Sri Lanka will give them a bit of an advantage going into the tie but was confident of his team’s abilities to adapt quickly to conditions as well. “Pakistan is playing good cricket in recent times. They have been here in Sri Lanka from a while now, so they’ll have an edge playing in Sri Lanka (Colombo).” Surya said.
The Bombay High Court issued a restraining order against Vidnyan Mane, a Marathi actor-producer, preventing him from making further defamatory statements about music composer Palaash Muchhal and his mother.
|Last Updated: Feb 14, 2026, 06:28 PM IST|Source: ANI
France and Germany call for UN special rapporteur for occupied Palestinian territory, Francesca Albanese, to step down over her critical comments.
More than 100 prominent artists – including musicians, actors and writers – have signed an open letter in support of the United Nations special rapporteur for occupied Palestinian territory who faces international calls to step down.
In a letter from the group Artists for Palestine on Saturday, the signatories offered “full support to Francesca Albanese, a defender of human rights and, therefore, also of the Palestinian people’s right to exist”.
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“There are infinitely more of us in every corner of the Earth who want force no longer to be the law. Who know what the word ‘law’ truly means,” the letter said.
Among the supporters were actors Mark Ruffalo and Javier Bardem, Nobel Prize-winning author Annie Ernaux and British musician Annie Lennox.
At last week’s Al Jazeera Forum, Albanese, an outspoken critic of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, said “we as humanity have a common enemy”, but a fake video that was later debunked had her accusing Israel of being the “common enemy”.
She later explained in a social media post she was referencing “the system that has enabled the genocide in Palestine” as the “common enemy”.
‘Crush any criticism of Israel’
Still, European countries, including France and Germany, continue to call for her removal.
On Tuesday, a group of French lawmakers sent a letter to Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot condemning Albanese’s remarks as “anti-Semitic”. A day later, Barrot called on her to step down, saying France “unreservedly condemns the outrageous and reprehensible remarks”.
On Thursday, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called her position “untenable”.
Frank Barat, an author and film producer, said French President Emmanuel Macron and Barrot have repeatedly said they support international law “while the facts show the complete opposite”.
Albanese has highlighted for the past two years that under international law, “states have a duty to act to prevent genocide, and they’ve been failing completely” in Gaza, Barat told Al Jazeera.
“Because Francesca has been highlighting this hypocrisy, she’s been targeted by most Western governments. The political agenda of these governments is to crush any criticism of Israel. We’ve seen it in the streets of Europe. We’ve seen it in the streets of the US,” he added.
People who have spoken out against Israel’s war on Palestine are “criminalised while the perpetrators of genocide continue to be let go“, Barat said.
Marta Hurtado, a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said at a news briefing on Friday that her colleagues are “very worried” about the backlash against Albanese.
“We are concerned that UN officials, independent experts and judicial officials are increasingly subjected to personal attacks, threats and misinformation that distracts from the serious human rights issues,” Hurtado said.
Nearly 600 Palestinians have been killed by Israel in Gaza since an October 10 “ceasefire” alone. At least 72,000 Palestinians have been killed and 171,000 wounded in Israel’s war since October 2023
Pop superstar Charli XCX said Saturday she was “honoured” to be at this year’s Berlin Film Festival and hailed the event’s tradition of scheduling politically aware films.
Charli XCX ‘honoured’ to be at ‘political’ Berlin Film Festival
Aidan Zamiri’s mockumentary “The Moment”, starring Charli XCX playing a fictionalised version of herself dealing with the fallout of her own “brat summer” phenomenon, is being shown in the festival’s Panorama section after premiering at Sundance last month.
At a press conference, Charli XCX was asked why she felt it was important to launch the film this way, at a time when many prominent new film releases are not coming from the festival circuit.
“I think we all collectively feel so honoured to have been invited to show our film at both Sundance and here at the Berlinale,” she said, adding that “both festivals really do champion a wide variety of filmmakers with really important voices”.
She went on to emphasise that the Berlinale “in particular is known for not shying away from political films, from films that have a real social angle”.
“I’m only just starting out in this industry, but I feel passionate about working within those spaces,” she said.
The comment came after the Berlinale was swept up in controversy when jury president Wim Wenders said Thursday in response to a question about the situation in Gaza that cinema should “stay out of politics”.
Two films were withdrawn from the festival in protest, and Booker Prize-winning author Arundhati Roy cancelled her appearance, calling Wenders’s stance “unconscionable”.
– ‘Cathartic’ –
Charli XCX co-produced “The Moment”, and also has two smaller acting roles in films that screened at Sundance, Gregg Araki’s “I Want Your Sex” and “The Gallerist”, by Cathy Yan.
“The Moment” satirises the consequences of her hit 2024 album “brat”, as rapacious record company executives and a film director played by Alexander Skarsgard seek to jump on the juggernaut.
Charli XCX said the film deals with “the lifespan of art, the idea of… overstaying your welcome in a cultural space”.
“Making this film was quite cathartic in a way, because I was also able to channel a lot of my frustration that I may have felt in the real world into these sort of heightened scenarios that I was experiencing within the film,” she said.
She drew liberally on her own experiences in the music industry to portray the fictional Charli’s reactions.
“Have I had a breakdown in the back of a Viano whilst smoking a million cigarettes? Yes.”
Several celebrities make cameo appearances as ironicised versions of themselves, including Kylie Jenner.
Director Zamiri admitted that he “couldn’t believe that Kylie was down to do this”.
“There’s a lot of crossover in this film between, you know, the real world and fiction,” he said.
“Maybe the hope is that in 20 years people might look back at this and sort of not quite know what was true and what wasn’t, and sort of confuse archaeologists of the future, ideally.”
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South Africa defeated New Zealand by 7 wickets to remain unbeaten in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 and secure their place in the Super 8 stage. The Proteas, led by Aiden Markram, continued their dominant form in Group D, toppling the Kiwis in a high-pressure clash.
New Zealand posted a competitive total but struggled to contain the explosive South African batting. Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram set the tone early, racing to 62-0 in the powerplay. De Kock was aggressive, pulling and hooking short deliveries for boundaries, while Markram unleashed a series of back-foot punches and elegant drives, keeping the scoreboard ticking. Ryan Rickelton also joined the assault, hitting a massive 103-meter six over deep mid-wicket, helping South Africa reach 83-1 after the first six overs.
In the middle overs, Markram maintained his dominance, reaching his fifty off just 19 balls, with precise drives, flicks, and a towering six down the ground. Dewald Brevis rotated strike efficiently, complementing Markram’s aggression while keeping the run rate under control. Mitchell Santner and James Neesham tried to apply pressure with tight overs and a few wickets, including Brevis’ dismissal for 21, but South Africa’s batting remained unshaken.
The final overs saw Markram and David Miller continue the onslaught, with Markram striking another crucial 86* and Miller supporting with quick boundaries. Jacob Duffy’s and Lockie Ferguson’s bowling went for boundaries, and wides offered extra scoring opportunities, helping South Africa reach 162-3 comfortably in 16 overs.
South Africa’s all-round performance, led by Markram’s captain’s knock and de Kock’s aggressive start, ensured a 7-wicket win and reinforced their top position in Group D with six points. New Zealand, meanwhile, remain with four points and will aim to recover in their remaining matches to secure the second Super 8 spot.
New Zealand Playing 11: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert(w), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner(c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy
South Africa Playing 11: Aiden Markram(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi
Sajid Nadiadwala’s production O’Romeodirected by Vishal Bhardwaj, was released in theatres on February 13 in time for the Valentine`s Day weekend. The film brings together Shahid Kapoor and Vishal who have earlier delivered hits like Kaminey and Haider. O`Romeo also stars Triptii Dimri, Avinash Tiwary and Farida Jalal in pivotal roles. The box office result of the film has now come in, and the movie has made a promising start.
O`Romeo box office
Shahid Kapoor-starrer has earned Rs 9.01 crore nett in India on Day 1. The Vishal Bhardwaj–Shahid Kapoor collaboration has once again delivered a strong opening, marking Shahid Kapoor’s biggest day 1 collection post-pandemic.
The film is being appreciated for its intense action-drama, layered romance, and a standout ensemble cast that includes Nana Patekar, Farida Jalal, Avinash Tiwary, Vikrant Massey, Tamannaah Bhatia, Disha Patani. Audience response towards the pairing of Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri has been particularly positive, with the background score and music adding to the film’s appeal.
With the Valentine’s weekend ahead and favourable word of mouth, O’Romeo is expected to witness growth over the weekend and emerge as a preferred theatrical pick for moviegoers.
Shahid Kapoor on O`Romeo
Ahead of the film`s release, Kapoor expressed his gratitude to filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj for giving him another memorable character with their upcoming drama, O`Romeo”.
A proud Shahid penned a special note for Vishal on the Stories section of his Instagram handle that read, “Ye hai from me as an actor for this man vishalrbhardwaj…Thank you for OROMEO!! Another character for me that`s etched in my filmography. So proud so happy and so grateful (sic)”, along with a red heart emoji.
Earlier, after wrapping the shoot of the film, Shahid penned, “And it’s a WRAP. My 4th collaboration with this special man vishalrbhardwaj . Excitement levels are off the charts. Our secretly titled soon to be announced film is done. As always it’s a new world and a madly different character for me to play. A titular part from him for the 3rd time. I am one of the KAMINEY I am HAIDER and now I am.”
Praising his co-stars, he went on to write, “This post can’t be complete without including the stellar cast tripti_dimri who I had a total blast with. Watch out for her act in this one. iamnanapatekar thank you for those oh so layered scenes we got together official_farida_jalal ji for your warmth and grace avinashtiwary15 for your playlist on that drive can’t reveal much more here brother. Have to say dishapatani you and me killed the 2 songs and I can’t wait to collaborate again you are so much fun. And there’s is one more actor one of my favs who can’t really be revealed but it is such a pleasure to have him with us on this one.”
Cricket’s biggest rivalry is set to take centre stage once again, despite it being a one-sided affair in recent times, as India take on Pakistan in the Group A clash at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, 15 February.
It has been all talk as of now. Not necessarily from the players but from the higher-ups in the sport, politics and more. But the time for talk is now over and it’s time to walk the talk on the field. Both teams come into this game having been unbeaten so far, and whilst it looks like both India and Pakistan are going to head into the Super 8s, this fixture will not be one that will be taken lightly by any means.
Over the last few games between these two teams, India has been outright dominant for the most part. Despite having brief hiccups, the Men in Blue have come out on top against their next-door neighbours.
IND vs PAK: WHAT DID SURYAKUMAR YADAV SAY?
India captain Suryakumar Yadav had a witty response when asked about the Pakistan skipper wanting Abhishek Sharma to play: “If he wants him to play, then we’ll play him tomorrow. Done.”
On the pressure of India-Pakistan matches, Surya was candid. “It’s more about the occasion. It’s a big platform,” he said, acknowledging that “no matter how much you say it’s just another game,” players know what’s at stake. “We don’t play them regularly,” he added, but emphasised the team’s approach is to “keep things simple.”
On team selection with multiple spin and pace options available, Surya admitted it’s a “good headache” and “very difficult to decide which fast bowler to play” given the quality of bowlers like Bumrah, Arshdeep, and Siraj competing for spots.
“You guys made Usman Tariq so big. For us, just like there are 15 players, Usman is also there,” he said, though he acknowledged the spinner as “a trump card for us.”
On the controversy surrounding Tariq’s bowling action, Salman was dismissive: “He doesn’t care about these things. Since the time he started cricket, these talks have been going on about him.”
Addressing the lead-up uncertainty and boycott threats, Salman maintained composure: “We were prepared for everything; whether we play or not.”
On the lack of handshakes during the Asia Cup, he called for better spirit: “The game should be played the same way as it has been since the beginning of cricket.”
IND vs PAK: TEAM NEWS
For the defending champions, the spotlight will be on the hard-hitting opener, Abhishek Sharma, who missed their recent game against Namibia having been hospitalised due to illness and subsequently discharged. The good news is that he has joined the squad and was spotted training with the team during their net session before the game.
Another interesting aspect to watch out for is whether India could drop Arshdeep Singh to accommodate a specialist spinner in Kuldeep Yadav or an all-rounder like Washington Sundar. There is a perception that spin might be the way to go, considering recent performances, and the options are open for the Indian team.
Image: PTI
But there is a slight conundrum India has in that regard. In Kuldeep Yadav, India has a specialist left-arm wrist-spinner who knows the conditions in Colombo, considering his vast international experience. But Washington Sundar, despite being a capable bowler, offers more with the bat if need be, and his addition could also allow the Indian batting unit to continue playing fearlessly and take on the Pakistan bowlers.
According to a report by PTI, Pakistan might be looking to make a few changes, going away from their spin-heavy attack to a relatively safer and more diverse one, which gives them enough alternatives. From a five-man spin unit, it could be a more even two-spinner and two-pacer combination.
This means that one of the all-rounders among Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf could be benched for the big match. The report suggests that Nawaz could be the one who is benched purely because of match-ups, considering India has a heavily left-handed batting unit, which is not the ideal match-up for a left-arm orthodox bowler.
Image: PTI
But the decision is not set in stone; the management wants to have a look at the pitch once again and take into account the weather conditions as well before making a final call.
Actor Sunny Deol has finally reacted to the viral dialogue from Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna’s film Dhurandhar, which references two of his most iconic films, Ghayal and Ghatak. Reacting to the buzz, Sunny addressed the reference and also revealed whether he received any royalty from the makers for using the titles of his classics.
Sunny Deol was last seen in Border 2 which released in theatres on January 23. (PTI)
Sunny Deol reacts
The dialogue, “Ghayal hoon, isiliye Ghatak hoon” from Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar has been trending across social media and evoking nostalgia among fans.
In a recent interview with ANI, Sunny was asked if he had received any payment or royalty for the use of his film titles in the dialogue. Addressing the query, the actor clarified that the reference stemmed purely from admiration and not from any commercial agreement.
He shared that Aditya is a fan of his work and had included the line as a tribute, and went on to describe the gesture as “very sweet.”
Reacting to the question, the actor smiled and said he found the gesture sweet. He said, “Nahi, humare jo director hai, he is a great fan. Unhone meri picture dekhi hai aur unhone Ghayal, Ghatak, yeh sab filmein dekhi hai. So I think just out of respect, maybe he used the dialogue. I mean, they have used the titles, which is very sweet.”
It translates to, “No, our director is a great fan. He has watched my films, including Ghayal and Ghatak. So I think he used the dialogue just out of respect. I mean, they’ve used the titles, which is very sweet.”
Meanwhile, Dhurandhar, which also featured R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Sanjay Dutt, was a major box office success, minting over ₹1300 crore worldwide. A sequel – Dhurandhar: The Revenge – will release next month.
Sunny Deol’s work
Sunny was last seen in the film, Border 2. Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 features an ensemble cast including Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty in lead roles, with Mona Singh, Sonam Bajwa, Anya Singh, and Medha Rana in supporting roles. The film is a standalone sequel to J.P. Dutta’s iconic Border and expands the story to depict joint operations of the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy against the backdrop of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. It is backed by T-Series and J P Films. While the 1997 film was based on the events of the Battle of Longewala during the 1971 India-Pakistan war, Border 2 is also set against the backdrop of the same conflict. The war drama raked in good numbers at the box office since its release on January 23.
The actor will soon be seen in Lahore 1947. After much delay on the release date, Aamir Khan Productions has announced on February 9 that the period drama will hit theatres on August 13, during the Independence Day week. The film brings together Sunny Deol, director Rajkumar Santoshi and producer Aamir Khan for the first time.
Indian Railways has reached a global milestone in freight operations, securing its position as a premier international logistics hub. Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced today that the national carrier has achieved an unprecedented scale in its logistics division. Highlighting this achievement, the Minister stated, “Indian Railways has become the second-largest cargo carrier in the world.”
Building on this momentum, the Ministry has prepared a rigorous roadmap for the upcoming year aimed at systemic transformation. The government plans to roll out a series of weekly initiatives to modernise every facet of rail travel and transport. Vaishnaw explained the structured timeline, saying, “For 2026, Railways has resolved to implement 52 reforms in 52 weeks.”
The initial phase of this plan will prioritise the passenger experience, with a focus on improving the quality of onboard facilities. The Minister identified the primary starting point for this year-long agenda, noting, “The first reform is better onboard services in Railways.”
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In addition to passenger amenities, the government is placing strong emphasis on the “Gati Shakti” initiative to streamline the nationwide movement of goods. This strategic focus is designed to strengthen the country’s supply chain. Vaishnaw confirmed the freight sector’s priority, adding, “The second concerns ‘Gati Shakti Cargo.’”
A cornerstone of the 2026 agenda is a comprehensive overhaul of sanitation and hygiene standards. The Ministry has developed a new blueprint to ensure that the rail network’s cleanliness meets global benchmarks. Detailing the specifics of the first major initiative, the Minister remarked, “Reform number one for 2026 will ensure proper end-to-end cleaning of the Railways… The concept of a clean rail station has been established.”
This cleanliness drive is not a short-term measure but a multi-year commitment to cover the entire Indian Railways fleet. The implementation will be phased to ensure thoroughness and consistency. Vaishnaw clarified the timeline, stating, “Over three years, this reform will be implemented across all trains.”
To ensure the success of these reforms, the Ministry is introducing a robust accountability framework. These measures will include performance-based contracts and the integration of modern digital tools to monitor progress in real time. Emphasising the shift towards professional and technology-driven management, the Minister concluded, “There will be clearly defined service-level agreements… There will be extensive use of technology.”
New Delhi: For a long time, Varun Chakravarthy has been packaged as the mystery spinner batters are meant to decode. But as someone who seems to put a lot of thought into his bowling, he probably knows that mystery fades and so mastery must endure. And so, his process now is not so much about the novelty of his unseen variations but the perpetual refinement of what he already owns.
India’s Varun Chakravarthy in action during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, in New Delhi. (Hindustan Times)
At the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday, the surface didn’t exactly misbehave but some deliveries did hold up, and the others kept low. It wasn’t a turner but Varun found control and bowled a short but sharp spell of 2-0-7-3 that broke the back of the Namibia chase before they could gather any momentum. What stood out was Varun running in faster and bowling faster.
Breaking down his spell after the match, Varun highlighted that what stood out was not mystery but method. “I have definitely worked on a few aspects such as speed and more revs,” he explained. “People work on variations also, but I worked on perfecting my existing ways. I worked on my follow-through so that I can get more zip off the wicket.”
That zip is crucial. On a pitch where the ball kept a bit low, pace through the air and sharpness off the deck mattered more than sharp turn. “This (pitch) was definitely a little surprising, but we have to adapt to whatever comes our way.”
Adapting has been the theme of his evolution since his T20I debut in 2021. Thrown into a T20 World Cup game against Pakistan with hopes that he would succeed as he did with Kolkata Knight Riders, Varun went wicketless (0/33) after an India batting collapse as Pakistan won by 10 wickets.
Come the fixture in Colombo on Sunday, this version of Varun now is less about illusion and more about precision. “I have worked on my over-spin rather than side-spin and more speed and zip off the wicket,” he said.
“The basic plan is to take wickets and keep attacking the stumps,” he said, explaining the simplicity behind his complex bag of tricks. Out of Thursday’s three wickets – Louren Steenkamp, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton and JJ Smit – two came off googlies. He doesn’t usually start with a googly but bowled Steenkamp with one first delivery. “Sometimes it’s just my instinct,” he said.
Conditions added another layer. Dew has been a looming issue in this tournament, especially in night games, particularly in northern India. “Dew does play a big factor when you are bowling second and if you have to defend.” There was dew on Thursday evening, but it didn’t worry him. “We play a lot of IPL. We know how to bowl if the dew comes in.”
While a large part of Varun’s bowling is about his ‘mystery’ and mastering his repertoire is important, adding new deliveries remains important.
Tricks up his sleeve
Before the Namibia fixture, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate had spoken about how Varun could spring surprises in the upcoming fixtures. “I’ve got a longstanding relationship with Varun from KKR and I understand how he operates. He likes consistency and his work ethic is exceptional. If he has bowled only 12 balls in the game, you can be 100% sure he’s going to bowl 12 balls after the game as well.”
He added: “He has worked on a few new deliveries which you’ll see rolled out in various stages. Not that he needs to but that’s the level of professionalism that you can expect from Varun. He is always trying to be better, we are always analysing the areas he bowls and the areas he needs to bowl – on surfaces and to specific players. He is a great thinker of the game and likes to spend time and work on his craft.”
Varun hinted that what we have seen might not be the final set of his bowling variations. “I always have something coming up,” he said. “If I am courageous enough, I will try it in the next match.”
“There are few balls which just click for me in the matches. And there have been a few variations which I have been trying for the last six years, they have still not come up. So, it just depends on the complexity of the delivery.”
Some may have been stuck in the lab for years, but if all comes together, the high-stakes Colombo game could well be the stage where they make an appearance.
 "Suryakumar Yadav remained tight lipped on the question about a potential handshake between India and Pakistan players during their upcoming match")
