COLOMBO: Four top contenders for the World Twenty20 title resume battle today, looking for ways to emerge unscathed from the tougher of the two groups in the Super Eights round.
Top-ranked South Africa takes on Pakistan and India clashes with Australia in a sold-out double-header at the Premadasa stadium in Colombo to launch the opening skirmishes in group two. All four teams showed their prowess by winning both matches in the preliminary league and now face a fight to finish to book two semi-final spots from the group.
“It is a tough group,” South African captain AB de Villiers said yesterday. “Any of the sides can beat each other on any given day, so it is going to be a great challenge.
“But if we play good cricket, we will be difficult to stop. We have prepared well for this tournament, to the extent that we are ready for even the Super Over if that becomes necessary.
The Super Over — where teams scoring more runs in six balls from an opposition bowler win — comes into play if a match is tied.
The South African captain’s main worry ahead today’s clash against Pakistan was how his team will cope against prolific off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.
Asked if his batsmen had been able to understand Ajmal’s action, de Villiers said: “Not really but there are not many batsmen who can read Ajmal.
“We have studied him closely and analyzed his action. The important thing will be to watch the ball closely.” Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni agreed the real battle in the tournament will begin with the Super Eights.
“We have enjoyed the tournament but the importance of the matches ahead multiplies,” said Dhoni, whose team faces Pakistan on Sunday and South Africa next Tuesday.
“You can’t afford to have a bad day really.” Pakistan skipper Mohammad Hafeez insisted his team was not even thinking about the game against India, the first T20 international between the arch-rivals since the 2007 World Twenty20 final.
“We take it match by match,” said Hafeez. “Our immediate focus is on how we are going to tackle a strong side like South Africa. We will think about the others later.” Hafeez said Pakistan’s game plan revolved around spinners Shahid Afridi and Ajmal, saying the duo were capable of restricting the best batting line-ups.
Australia’s trump card, according to skipper George Bailey, was their top all-rounder Shane Watson, who was man of the match in both the preliminary matches.
Watson, who opens both the batting and bowling, hit 51 and took 3-26 against Ireland and then made 41 not out and claimed 2-29 in the second game against the West Indies.
“He plays such a key role, and he is so versatile that he would be one of the most feared players in the competition,” Bailey said of Watson. “His power is second to none but he just does not go out there and blast from ball one.
“And in terms of his bowling, he has set a really good example for some of our younger guys.” Bailey conceded it was an open group but remained confident his team was capable of winning the one major title that has eluded Australia.
The other group, which comprises defending champions England, New Zealand, the West Indies and hosts Sri Lanka.
Rivals wary of ‘group of death’ in World T20
Rivals wary of ‘group of death’ in World T20
Football’s return to Syrian pitches brings fanfare — and friction
RIYADH: Just 10 days after the first anniversary of Syria’s Liberation Day, and one week after the historic performance of the country’s football team at the 2025 Arab Cup — where they reached the quarterfinals — domestic football returned as the Syrian Premier League kicked off its new season.
While league football has continued intermittently since a one-year suspension in 2011, this season represents a notable shift.
For the first time since 2017, the competition features 16 teams playing a full round-robin format — a return to structural normality after years of disrupted campaigns, withdrawals and operational challenges caused by conflict and deteriorating infrastructure.
Foreign players have also returned in significant numbers. A total of 25 overseas players are registered across the 16 clubs in what is now known as the “Prime TV” Syrian Premier League, following the broadcaster’s acquisition of domestic broadcasting rights for the season.
Yet despite the sense of renewal, the league’s reset has been far from smooth. Average attendances remain well below pre-war levels, while the season itself was delayed multiple times before eventually beginning in mid-December — a schedule that is now expected to extend deep into the summer months.
Concerns over facilities and fan safety have already sparked internal tension. The anticipated Matchday Two fixture between Tishreen and Hottin — also known as the Latakia Derby — was postponed by the Syrian Football Association until further notice. No official explanation was provided, but stadium readiness and crowd safety has been at the core of football discussion in Syria.
Supporters have also voiced their frustration over the newly announced ticket prices. Entry fees increased from 5,000 Syrian pounds ($0.45) to 15,000 SYP, a threefold rise announced by the SFA and widely cited as a factor behind subdued crowds.
Infrastructure remains a pressing issue. Historic venues such as Khalid Ibn Al-Walid Stadium in the city of Homs are still not cleared to host games due to pitch conditions and safety requirements, reinforcing the sense of uneven progress — advances made, but frequently offset by new obstacles.
Operational shortcomings were evident as early as the first game of the season. In the opening fixture between Al-Shorta and Hottin, a formal warning was issued to the former by the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee due to a breach in organizational arrangements for the match, including the failure to provide ball boys, which led to a five-minute delay to kick-off.
Political sensitivities have not been easy to navigate either. Al-Karamah were fined 1,500,000 SYP after fans directed verbal abuse at Al-Wahda player Milad Hamad, due to previous political posts made on his Facebook account.
Five days later, Al-Wahda announced Hamad’s suspension from all sporting activities pending review by the relevant committee at the SFA. “This decision comes in solidarity with all our beloved Syrian fans and as a reaffirmation of our commitment to the unity of our people and our land, and to the fact that the blood of our martyrs in the Syrian Revolution has not been shed in vain,” the club said in a statement posted via their official Facebook page.
Rebuilding a sustainable football system in Syria has proven complex. The league’s return has brought moments of excitement alongside renewed tension — a reminder that restoring domestic football is not simply about restarting competition, but about addressing the structures that support it. The Syrian Football Association was contacted for comment, but did not respond.
