T20 WC: Suryakumar Yadav's 53 take India to 181-8 against Afghanistan in first Super 8 game
Bridgetown (Barbados), Jun 20: Suryakumar Yadav made a 28-ball 53 to guide India to a challenging 181 for eight against Afghanistan in their opening Super 8s match of the T20 World Cup here on Thursday.
Surya hit three sixes and five fours in his knock. Vice-captain Hardik Pandya made 24-ball 32. Virat Kohli (24) and Rishabh Pant (20) also chipped in with useful contributions at the top.
Rashid Khan (3/26) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (3/33) were the standout bowlers for Afghanistan with three wickets.
Brief Score:
India: 181 for 8 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 53; Rashid Khan 3/26).
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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.
