Texas Chargers held their nerve at crucial moments to defeat New York Warriors in the final of the US Masters T10. The Chargers won the inaugural title after a Super Over finish. Texas were cruising in response to a 93-run target but saw a dramatic collapse and had to redeem themselves through the tie-breaker.
Batting first in a thrilling contest, the New York Warriors lost opener Kamran Akmal off the first delivery, before Tillakaratne Dilshan and Richard Levi steadied the ship. The duo put on a 30-run stand for the second wicket, playing with a risk-free approach, before Levi was knocked over for 17.
Dilshan added 18 to the cause and was the next to depart, with Misbah-ul-Haq being joined by Shahid Afridi. They could not kick on as Afridi was dismissed for 1, by Ehsan Adil, who finished his spell with three wickets.
The captain could add only five in the seventh over, and Abdul Razzaq (3) departed in the eighth over, with the score at 62/6. After that, Jonathan Carter teed off for the Warriors, smashing three sixes and as many boundaries, taking the team to 92/6 in their quota of 10 overs.
In response, Texas lost the wicket of the in-form Mukhtar Ahmed for 6 in the second over. However, the very experienced Mohammad Hafeez had skipper Ben Dunk for company, and the duo dug in.
Hafeez has been in scintillating form and along with Dunk, put on a 46-run stand to set the Chargers on the way to the finish line. Dunk was dismissed for 20 but Hafeez was looking dangerous, as the Chargers reached 60/2 at the halfway stage.
Soon after, Hafeez was dismissed for 46, and Darren Stevens was gone for two, as the Chargers lost their fourth wicket. In the ninth over, Sohail Khan struck a few big blows as Upul Tharanga (1), Phil Mustard (0), Thisara Perera (4) and Neil Broom (1) were all dismissed quickly. Sohail finished with a five-wicket haul as the Warriors took control.
W. W. W. W. 🤯
Spare a thought for Sohail Khan and New York Warriors who refused to give up. 🙇♂️
In the final over, Shahid Afridi picked two wickets, as the Chargers were all out for 92, in their 10 overs, forcing the final into a tie-breaker.
In the Super Over, the Chargers batted first with Dunk and Hafeez coming out to face Sohail. The Chargers hit a couple of sixers and lost one wicket, of Hafeez, on the way to posting 15 runs. In reply, New York had Shahid Afridi and Jonathon Carter taking strike. The duo threw the kitchen sink at the Chargers, but fell just short, scoring 13 runs off the over.
A super over to bring the curtains down on a super finale 👊
Hafeez was also instrumental and consistent for Texas in the play-offs, including the Qualifer 2 when the Chargers knocked out California Knights by seven wickets and seven balls to spare.
Chasing a target of 140 in a high-scoring affair that saw a combined 23 sixes being hit, Hafeez and Mukhtar struck 20, 22 and 22 runs in Overs 2 to 4 to seal victory convincingly. Texas were leading the table in the league stage at one point but were the fourth and last to enter the play-offs. Yet, they steamrolled their way to the title.
A celebrity T10 match was organised before the final. Bollywood stars such as Suniel Shetty and Sohail Khan took part in the match along with chairman of T-Ten Global Sports, Shaji Ul Mulk, and Ritesh Patel, CEO of SAMP Group, the league’s organising partner.
Brief scores:
New York Warriors 92/6 (Jonathan Carter 39*, T Dilshan 18; Ehsan Adil 3/11; Imran Khan 1/15) tied with Texas Chargers 92 (Mohammad Hafeez 46, Ben Dunk 20; Sohail Khan 5/15, Umaid Asif 2/14)
Travellers arriving at Dubai International Airport are being greeted with a unique souvenir, a special stamp on their passports celebrating the Dubai World Cup 2026.
The initiative, launched by the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA), marks the 30th edition (Pearl Jubilee) of one of the world’s most prestigious horse racing events.
A grand sporting celebration
The iconic Dubai World Cup will take place on Saturday, March 28 at Meydan Racecourse, drawing global attention from racing fans and elite stables.
This year’s event promises high-stakes action:
100 horses from top international stables
Nine races across the evening
Total prize pool of $30.5 million
Spotlight on the main race
The highlight of the night is the $12 million Dubai World Cup race, sponsored by Emirates Airline.
Run over 2,000 metres on dirt, the Group 1 race will feature some of the world’s top thoroughbreds, including:
“Hit Show” – last year’s winner
“Forever Young” – UAE Derby and Saudi Cup champion
“Imperial Emperor”
“Meidan” – Super Saturday winner
A memorable arrival experience
The commemorative passport stamp adds a celebratory touch for visitors landing in Dubai, tying their arrival to one of the city’s biggest sporting spectacles.
With excitement building ahead of race day, Dubai is once again showcasing its ability to blend world-class sport with unique visitor experiences.
Soccer superstar Erling Haaland has announced a major investment in Norway Chess, backing the launch of a new global competition format, the Total Chess World Championship Tour.
The initiative, unveiled in Oslo, aims to transform chess into a more spectator-friendly and widely accessible sport. Haaland has partnered with Norwegian business leader Morten Borge to establish a new company, Chess Mates, which will become a significant stakeholder in Norway Chess.
Haaland said his investment reflects a strong belief in chess as both a mental discipline and a global spectator sport.
“Chess is an incredible game. It sharpens your mind, and there are clear similarities to football. You have to think quickly, trust your instincts, and think several moves ahead,” he said.
The newly announced Total Chess World Championship Tour is set to feature four tournaments annually across different cities, bringing together the world’s top players. The competition will crown an overall world champion based on combined performance in three formats: Fast Classic, Rapid, and Blitz.
The tour has been approved by the International Chess Federation for a minimum of 16 years, underscoring its long-term ambition and significance within the global chess calendar.
A pilot tournament is scheduled for autumn 2026, with the first full season expected in 2027. Each season will include four events and offer a minimum prize pool of $2.7 million.
Kjell Madland, CEO of Norway Chess and Total Chess, welcomed Haaland’s involvement, describing it as a major step forward for the sport.
He said Haaland’s global influence and appeal would help attract new audiences and elevate the profile of chess worldwide, adding that preparations are now in the final stages to secure host cities for the inaugural tour.
With millions of fans worldwide, Haaland’s move into chess investment signals a growing crossover between elite sport and strategic mind games, potentially reshaping how chess is consumed and followed globally.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has been thrown into uncertainty after the Pakistan government announced that its national cricket team will boycott its league-stage match against India, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.
The announcement was made on Sunday via an official government post on X, granting approval for Pakistan to participate in the tournament but explicitly instructing the team not to take the field against India. No reason was cited for the decision.
ICC Issues Strong Warning
The International Cricket Council (ICC) reacted sharply, warning that selective participation threatens the integrity of global tournaments and could have long-term consequences for Pakistan cricket.
In a statement, the ICC said it “expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution that protects the interests of all stakeholders,” while stressing that the decision could harm the global cricket ecosystem.
“Selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms,” the ICC said, adding that it is still awaiting formal communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
An important fixture
The India–Pakistan fixture is the most commercially valuable match of ICC tournaments, accounting for a significant share of global broadcasting and sponsorship revenue. If the match is forfeited:
Pakistan will lose two group-stage points
Its net run rate will be negatively impacted
Broadcasters and sponsors could seek compensation
Under ICC Playing Conditions, India must be present at the venue at the time of the toss for the match to be officially forfeited in their favour.
PCB Revenue and PSL at Risk
Despite financial struggles, the PCB currently receives $34.5 million annually from the ICC, the fourth-highest share among member boards, largely driven by India–Pakistan matches.
If compensation is deducted from this revenue, the PCB could lose up to 70–80% of its annual ICC earnings. The ICC is also reportedly considering denying No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for overseas players seeking to participate in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
There is further concern that major cricket boards such as England and Australia could reconsider bilateral series with Pakistan.
Background to the Crisis
Tensions escalated after the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament following Bangladesh’s refusal to play matches in India due to security concerns. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi accused the ICC of double standards and warned that Pakistan’s participation would ultimately depend on government approval.
Pakistan are placed in Group A alongside India, USA, Namibia and the Netherlands, with matches scheduled in Sri Lanka, a co-host of the tournament with India. Pakistan are due to play:
Netherlands on February 7
USA on February 10
Namibia on February 18
The India match now remains in serious doubt.
What Happens Next
The ICC has reiterated that its priority is the successful delivery of the T20 World Cup and has urged the PCB to consider the broader impact on fans, players and the future of Pakistan cricket.
With millions of viewers worldwide and enormous commercial stakes involved, the cricketing world is watching closely as the situation continues to unfold.