North Sound (Antigua), Jun 22: A clinical India all but clinched a semi-final berth in the T20 World Cup after a comfortable 50-run win against Bangladesh in a Super 8s match here on Saturday.

Riding on a half-century from vice-captain Hardik Pandya (50 off 27 balls) and useful knocks from Virat Kohli (37), Rishabh Pant (36) and Shivam Dube (34), India posted 196 for 5, the highest T20I total at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium.

In reply, Bangladesh were all at sea against Kuldeep Yadav's (3/19 in 4 overs) left-arm wrist spin as they managed only 146 for 8 in the end.

Pandya showed his all-round prowess with a scalp as only skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (40 off 32 balls) looked comfortable in the middle. Jasprit Bumrah (2/13 in 4 overs) was economical as ever.

Brief Scores:

India 196/5 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 50 not out, Shivam Dube 34, Rishabh Pant 36, Virat Kohli 37; T H Sakib 2/32).

Bangladesh 146/8 in 20 overs (Najmul Hossain Shanto 40, Kuldeep Yadav 3/19, Jasprit Bumrah 2/13).

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Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.

The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.

Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.

However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.

Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.

They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.