In a stunning move, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially removed Bangladesh from the upcoming 20-team T20 World Cup. Scotland, as the highest-ranked non-qualified team, has been invited to take their place.

• The Dispute: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to participate under the current schedule, citing security concerns. They requested their matches be moved to Sri Lanka, a proposal the ICC rejected after finding no “credible or verifiable” threat to the team in India.
• The Fallout: Pakistan is now reportedly considering forfeiting its high-stakes match against India (scheduled for February 15 in Colombo) in a show of solidarity with Bangladesh.
• Broadcaster Panic: With over $38 million in advertising revenue directly tied to the India-Pakistan clash, a forfeiture could lead to massive legal battles between the host broadcaster and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

🗞️ Other Trending Headlines

Beyond the cricket pitch, here are the other major stories breaking today:

• ⚖️ Entertainment: Madras High Court Halts “Jana Nayagan” In a massive blow to Thalapathy Vijay, the Madras High Court has struck down the censor clearance for his film Jana Nayagan. The ruling follows a legal dispute over controversial content, leaving the film’s release date in total limbo.
• 👟 Business: China’s Anta Sports Buys Into Puma In a landmark $1.8 billion deal, Chinese giant Anta Sports has acquired a 29.1% stake in the German sportswear brand Puma. This makes Anta the largest shareholder, signaling a major power shift in the global athletics market.
• 🧪 Science: Nvidia Launches “Earth-2” AI Nvidia has unveiled a suite of open-source AI models called Earth-2, capable of predicting global weather patterns 1,000 times faster than traditional supercomputers. This tech is expected to revolutionize emergency responses to storms and heatwaves.
• 🕊️ National: 10,000kg Explosives Seized in Rajasthan Police in Nagaur, Rajasthan, have arrested one individual after seizing a massive stash of 10,000 kg of ammonium nitrate from a quiet farmhouse. Investigations are underway to determine the intended use of the stockpile.