Pakistan’s government has approved its cricket team to play against India in the T20 World Cup on February 15, ending its earlier boycott stand. The decision came through a late-night notification after talks involving the Pakistan Cricket Board, Bangladesh Cricket Board and the ICC in Lahore. The government said the step was taken to protect the “spirit of cricket” and ensure the event runs smoothly. The match will now take place as scheduled. Bangladesh board chief Aminul Islam had urged Pakistan to play for the good of the sport. The ICC later confirmed Bangladesh will not face penalties and will receive future global event hosting rights. (PC: X)

Pakistan has confirmed it will play India in the T20 World Cup on February 15 after the government withdrew its earlier boycott call. The decision followed talks between the Pakistan Cricket Board, Bangladesh Cricket Board and ICC officials. In a statement, the government said the move came after multilateral discussions and requests from “friendly countries”. It added that the step aims to protect the “spirit of cricket” and ensure continuity of the global event. The match will be held in Colombo as scheduled. Pakistan had earlier planned to skip the game in support of Bangladesh, which withdrew from the tournament over travel concerns. (PC: India Today)

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor hosted Indian ministers and diplomats at his New Delhi residence after the India–US interim trade framework was announced. Speaking at the event, Gor said the Trump administration is “paying attention” to India and credited the friendship between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for helping seal the deal. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal attended the reception. Goyal thanked Gor for supporting closer trade ties. Referring to a recent India vs USA T20 World Cup match, Goyal joked that the US “lost by 18%” and said zero tariffs might have changed the result. (PC: HT)

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has written to the Pakistan Cricket Board asking it not to boycott the T20 World Cup match against India in Colombo on February 15. BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul made the appeal after Pakistan earlier decided to pull out of the fixture in support of Bangladesh over venue issues. He said playing the match would serve the wider cricket ecosystem and tournament schedule. “I request Pakistan to play… for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem,” Aminul said. After talks with ICC officials and other countries, Pakistan reviewed its position and later directed its team to take the field. (PC: India Today)

King Charles has expressed “profound concern” as police review new allegations linked to Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein. Buckingham Palace said the King is ready to support authorities if asked. A spokesperson said the claims are for Andrew to answer, but the Palace would assist police as expected. Thames Valley Police confirmed they are assessing whether a complaint filed by anti-monarchy group Republic needs an investigation. The complaint cites suspected misconduct in public office and possible breach of official secrets. Newly released US justice department emails suggest Andrew shared confidential trade visit details with Epstein while serving as UK trade envoy in 2010 and 2011. (PC: BBC)

A new white paper released in London says Indian migrants make a major contribution to the UK economy and public services. The study was prepared by Here & Now 365 with the Aston India Centre at Aston University. It reviews four waves of Indian migration since India’s independence. The report says early migrants filled labour shortages after World War II and supported core services. Later groups built businesses and entered skilled professions. It estimates Indian-born professionals account for about 15% of the UK technology workforce. The paper says the Indian diaspora is “woven into the UK’s growth story” through health, skills, and innovation. (PC: NDTV)

The Indian Air Force’s proposal to buy 114 Rafale fighter jets is set to come before the Defence Acquisition Council ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India. Officials said the council may grant Acceptance of Necessity, the first formal step in defence purchases. The plan includes 18 jets bought directly from France and 96 to be made in India with private partners. Some aircraft will be twin-seaters for training. The Defence Procurement Board has already cleared the proposal. After the council nod, commercial talks will begin, followed by approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security. The deal may cost about ₹3.25 lakh crore. (PC: HT)

The International Cricket Council said Bangladesh’s absence from the T20 World Cup 2026 is “regrettable” but confirmed that no punishment will be given to the Bangladesh Cricket Board. The ICC said there will be no financial, sporting, or administrative sanctions. The decision followed talks between the ICC, PCB, and BCB. Bangladesh withdrew after its government refused to allow travel to India over security concerns. Scotland replaced Bangladesh in the tournament. ICC chief executive Sanjog Gupta said Bangladesh remains important to world cricket. “It does not alter the ICC’s enduring commitment to Bangladesh as a core cricketing nation,” he said. Bangladesh will host an ICC event between 2028 and 2031. (PC: India Today)

Palestinian officials and several Arab states have criticised new Israeli cabinet measures in the West Bank, calling them a move toward “de facto annexation”. The steps were announced by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. They ease rules on land sales and property registration involving Jewish settlers. Smotrich said, “We will continue to kill the idea of a Palestinian state.” The changes remove limits on direct land sales and cut permit needs for property deals. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the measures “dangerous” and urged US and UN action. Israeli rights group Peace Now warned the decision could lead to large-scale land takeover and weaken existing agreements. (PC: BBC)

The India vs Pakistan match at the T20 World Cup on February 15 in Colombo is likely to be played as scheduled, according to sources. The Pakistan Cricket Board has eased its earlier boycott position linked to Bangladesh’s removal from the event. A meeting between PCB, Bangladesh Cricket Board and ICC officials was held in Lahore to resolve the issue. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi said talks are still on and no final decision has been announced yet. “Once we get their response, we will decide,” he said. He added that the matter will be placed before Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif before an official confirmation is made. (PC: NDTV)