Pat Cummins makes history with T20 World Cup hat-trick against Bangladesh
Antigua: Pat Cummins created history in the T20 World Cup by claiming a hat-trick during Australia’s Super Eight clash against Bangladesh in Antigua. Cummins took the wickets of Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan, and Towhid Hridoy in consecutive deliveries over two overs at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua. His impressive performance helped Australia restrict Bangladesh to 140-8.
Cummins, who was restored to the starting line-up, finished with figures of 3-29 off four overs. He became only the second Australian, and the seventh bowler overall, to achieve a hat-trick in T20 World Cup history. Spinner Adam Zampa also shone, taking 2-24.
In addition to Cummins' milestone, Mitchell Starc became the most prolific bowler in white-ball cricket history, securing his 95th World Cup wicket by trapping Tanzid Hasan in the opening over. Starc surpassed Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga, setting a strong tone for Australia’s bowlers after captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to bowl.
Australia’s disciplined bowling attack kept Bangladesh on the back foot. Josh Hazlewood opened his spell with a maiden over, while Starc's tight bowling allowed only eight runs in the first three overs. Although Najmul Hossain Shanto and Litton Das briefly boosted the run rate, the introduction of Zampa and Cummins' lethal spell halted Bangladesh's momentum.
Zampa dismissed Das in the ninth over, leaving Bangladesh at 58-2. Glenn Maxwell then removed Rishad Hossain in the 10th over, and Shanto's dismissal for 41 in the 13th over further slowed the Bangladesh innings. Cummins' hat-trick in the later stages dismantled the lower order, setting Australia a target of 141 to win.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
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.
