India let in two goals in the final quarter to suffer a 1-3 defeat to Belgium in their Rourkela leg of the FIH Men's Pro League 2025-26 match in Rourkela on Wednesday.

Namibia lost their opening game against the Netherlands and face USA and Pakistan in their remaining league fixtures.

Pakistan took a U-turn on boycotting the marquee clash against India in Colombo after pressure from the International Cricket Council and other member nations.

India lost six wickets quickly in their tournament opener against the USA on February 7 before rallying to emerge comfortable winners.

Pacer Nathan Ellis set the tone with a three-wicket burst in his opening spell as an under-strength Australia demolished Ireland by 67 runs in their opening group B fixture of the T20 World Cup 2026 on Wednesday.

Abhishek Sharma was out for a duck against the USA in the opening game on Saturday in Mumbai and took no further part after that with Sanju Samson replacing him while fielding.

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh was on Wednesday forced to miss the team's opening match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup against Ireland after suffering a groin injury.

Pakistan called off its boycott of the match against India late on Monday night. The two teams will meet in a marquee contest in Colombo on February 15.

India opener Abhishek Sharma skipped Thursday's training session as he continues to recover from a stomach upset, casting a small cloud over his availability

The Pakistan government withdrew the boycott order late Monday night after PCB's negotiations with the BCB and the ICC.

Ryan Ten Doeschate said that Suryakumar Yadav has the innate ability to remain the same man whether he walks in after a duck or a match-winning blitz.

India coach Ryan Ten Doeschate acknowledged that Pakistan could enjoy a logistical edge having already spent considerable time in Colombo ahead of their T20 World Cup match.

Pakistan T20 World Cup Boycott U-Turn: T2The PCB has now also been given clearance to play India if both countries face each other again in the later stages of the World Cup.

Mitchell Marsh is confident that his side's relatively inexperienced bowling attack will rise to the challenge in the absence of frontline pacers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood during the T20 World Cup.

England head coach Brendon McCullum was seen communicating with England captain Harry Brook through a walkie-talking during drinks break in their T20 World Cup clash against Nepal.

The government statement over the T20 World Cup boycott U-Turn came after Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi briefed Sharif about his dialogue with the ICC.

Their recent form has been far from convincing and the loss of two lead pacers has only added to Australia's woes but the former champions will still start as overwhelming favourites in their T20 World Cup opener against Ireland.

With only two teams slated to make the Super Eight stage from each group, Afghanistan find themselves in a must-win situation when they take on an in-form South Africa in their Group D match.

Both the teams have won the competition twice in the past and are chasing a third title win like tournament co-hosts and defending champions India.

The India-Pakistan match will go ahead as scheduled after Pakistan's government decided to withdraw its boycott call following persuasion from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.