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Ahmad Habibzi pauses to pray at the top of the halfpipe hill on a mountain at the Yabuli Ski Resort in northeastern China. The Afghan-Canadian snowboarder was giving thanks to God after a whirlwind trip to China, and asking for protection before setting off down the U-shaped course on Wednesday.The 33-year-old is the oldest of Afghanistan’s snowboarding trio at the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, where they are up against world-class competitors from South Korea, China and Japan.They are all refugees and are Afghanistan’s first representatives at the Asian Winter Games since 2011, when the country fielded one cross-country skier.Habibzi, a Toronto-based IT and security worker, fled Kabul with his family at four years old.His teammates, Ahmad Romal Hayat who is 30 and 24-year-old Nizaruddin Ali Zada, left when the Taliban seized control in 2021.”I hold this Canadian passport, but at the end of the day I am Afghan,” said Habibzi, who dreamed of competing for his birth country since taking up snowboarding a decade ago.”My friends, family and relatives, they are all so happy for me,” said the Kabul-born Habibzi. “My mom and dad were crying.”Afghanistan compete under the black, red and green flag of the toppled republic at major games, as the International Olympic Committee does not recognise the black-and-white emblem of the ruling Taliban government.Afghanistan have never competed at the Winter Olympics and have just one summer medallist, Rohullah Nikpai, who won taekwondo bronze in 2008 and 2012.”We are not professional and try to gain experience from these competitions,” said Ali Zada, who had the “special feeling” of carrying the flag at the opening ceremony. – ‘Afghanistan on your shoulders’ -“It’s like you have the whole of Afghanistan on your shoulders and you want to keep it high.”The three were the last to go in Wednesday’s halfpipe qualification.Gasps of awe turned into surprised laughter in the 100-spectator crowd when Hayat was the first of the trio to set off and stuck to the sides of the halfpipe, prioritising balance over how high he could get in the air.But the amusement gave way to appreciative cheers when he pumped his arms and let out a loud whoop on completing his run.”We know that Afghanistan is facing a lot of problems politically, socially, and economically,” Hayat told AFP.”We have come to… tell them that the messengers of peace are alive.”Hayat whipped out his phone to film Ali Zada, embracing his teammate before the two shared a seat on the lift back up the mountain.”Hi Mom, hi Dad”, said Habibzi, waving to the camera lens. “I love you.”Habibzi, who can practise on mountains in Canada and the United States, recognises he is privileged compared with his teammates, who grew up in Afghanistan.”I always ask,” he said, “why is it me, that I got to leave the country earlier, and not someone else?”When they were in Afghanistan before 2021, getting equipment had been a struggle and snowboarders had been limited to a few provinces considered safe enough to train, said Najibullah Ayoubi, the general secretary of the Afghanistan snowboarding federation who is now based in Germany.The Afghan snowboarders are not the only relative newcomers to the sport at the Asian Winter Games.Cambodia’s four snowboarders told AFP that each of them had managed only two weeks of training in South Korea.Lee Chae-un, the South Korean halfpipe world champion in 2023, called the Afghan crew “kind” and “funny” after meeting them for the first time.”I’ve been so happy riding together,” the 18-year-old Lee told AFP.For Habibzi, reality won’t kick in until he gets home, where his family have been watching.”I still feel like I’m dreaming,” said Habibzi, in a jacket with the Afghan flag and five Olympic rings above his heart.”It’s my biggest achievement.”

Shubman Gill was the toast of Indian cricket Thursday after a match-winning century against England that fuelled optimism that he can carry his blazing form into the Champions Trophy.The vice-captain smashed 112 off 102 balls to set up India’s 142-run hammering of England and sweep the one-day international series 3-0 in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.Gill, who took back the opening slot from Yashasvi Jaiswal, ended the series as the leading batsman with 259 runs after his 87 and 60 in the first two wins.He registered his seventh ODI ton in his 50th match and now has a hundred in all three international formats at Ahmedabad, home of the world’s biggest cricket stadium.His spell comes ahead of the 50-over Champions Trophy starting February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai and after a lean patch in Tests. He scored just 93 runs in five innings during India’s 3-1 Test defeat in Australia. “He is still 25, so imagine what can happen in the next couple of years if we keep backing him and keep putting trust in these young cricketers in that dressing room,” coach Gautam Gambhir told reporters. Gill was appointed deputy to skipper Rohit Sharma ahead of the England ODIs and Gambhir said that he seemed to thrive with the added responsibility.”Hopefully he can continue going forward and in the Champions Trophy as well,” Gambhir added. Gill put on key stands including a 116-run partnership with Virat Kohli in the final England match, hitting 14 fours and three sixes.”This (Champions Trophy) is a tournament that will make us notice Shubman Gill even more,” former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.”At this stage he is able to balance his game of attack and defence.”Veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle, on Indian website Cricbuzz, said: “With Shubman there is never a shortage of style, class and elegance.”India begin their Champions Trophy campaign in Dubai against Bangladesh on February 20 and three days later face arch-rivals Pakistan.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will try to rekindle his bromance with Donald Trump — and avoid the US president’s wrath on tariffs and immigration — when they meet on Thursday at the White House.Modi will also hold a joint press conference with Trump, the White House said — a rare move from the Indian leader, who is a prolific social media user but seldom takes questions from reporters.The latest in a series of foreign leaders beating an early path to the Oval Office door since the Republican’s return to power, Modi shared good relations with Trump during his first term.The premier has offered quick tariff concessions ahead of his visit, with New Delhi slashing duties on high-end motorcycles — a boost to Harley-Davidson, the iconic American manufacturer whose struggles in India have irked Trump.India also accepted a US military flight carrying 100 shackled migrants last week as part of Trump’s immigration overhaul, and New Delhi has vowed its own “strong crackdown” on illegal migration.India’s top career diplomat Vikram Misri said last week that there had been a “very close rapport” between the leaders, although their ties have so far failed to bring a breakthrough on a long-sought bilateral trade deal.Modi was among the first to congratulate “good friend” Trump after his November election win.For nearly three decades, US presidents from both parties have prioritized building ties with India, seeing a natural partner against a rising China.But Trump has also raged against India over trade, the biggest foreign policy preoccupation of his new term, in the past calling the world’s fifth-largest economy the “biggest tariff abuser.”Former property tycoon Trump has unapologetically weaponized tariffs against friends and foes since his return.- ‘Trump’s anger’ -Modi “has prepared for this, and he is seeking to preempt Trump’s anger,” said Lisa Curtis, the National Security Council director on South Asia during Trump’s first term.The Indian premier’s Hindu-nationalist government has meanwhile obliged Trump on another top priority: deporting undocumented immigrants.While public attention has focused on Latin American arrivals, India is the third source of undocumented immigrants in the United States after Mexico and El Salvador.Indian activists burned an effigy of Trump last week after the migrants on the US plane were flown back in shackles the whole journey, while the opposition accused Modi of weakness.One thing Modi is likely to avoid, however, is any focus on his record on the rights of Muslims and other minorities.Trump is unlikely to highlight an issue on which former president Joe Biden’s administration offered gentle critiques.Modi is the fourth world leader to visit Trump since his return, following the prime ministers of Israel and Japan and the king of Jordan.Modi assiduously courted Trump during his first term. The two share much in common, with both campaigning on promises to promote the interests of their countries’ majority communities over minorities and both doggedly pursuing critics.In February 2020, Modi invited Trump before a cheering crowd of more than 100,000 people to inaugurate the world’s largest cricket stadium in his home state of Gujarat.Trump could visit India later this year for a scheduled summit of the Quad — a four-way grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the United States.

Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha cracked centuries to guide Pakistan into the tri-series final with a thumping six-wicket win over South Africa in Karachi on Wednesday.Rizwan led Pakistan’s highest successful chase in all one-day internationals of 353 in 49 overs with a magnificent 122 not out while Salman slammed 134 for his maiden century at the National Stadium.Pakistan will now face New Zealand at the same venue on Friday in the final of the event which is a key warm-up for the Champions Trophy which starts next week.The hundreds made by Rizwan and Salman overshadowed Matthew Breetzke’s record of scoring most runs by a batsman in his first two one-day internationals of 150 and 83.Breetzke’s innings had set up an imposing South Africa total of 352-5.Rizwan and Salman built a match-changing stand of 260, a new record for the fourth wicket for Pakistan, improving on the 206 scored by Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan against India at Centurion in 2009.Their blistering innings should also erase doubts over the team’s vulnerable batting as they improved on Pakistan’s previous highest successful chase of 349 against Australia in Lahore in 2022.Rizwan hit nine boundaries and three sixes off 128 balls while Salman’s 103-ball knock had 16 boundaries and two sixes.”When God helps, you break all kinds of records,” said Rizwan. “We were looking to restrict them to 320 but Klaasen took them to 350. “When we were going back after the first innings, Khushdil (Shah) said we had chased 350 before so those were inspiring words.”South African skipper Temba Bavuma blamed the flat pitch for defeat.- Shaheen, Breetzke clash -“It was a good wicket and was tough work for bowlers,” said Bavuma. “We needed wickets in the middle which we didn’t get.”Breetzke followed his highest-ever debut score against New Zealand in Lahore on Monday with an attractive 84-ball 83, spiced with a six and 10 boundaries, after South Africa won the toss.Breetzke bettered West Indian Desmond Haynes’s aggregate of 195 runs in his first two matches in 1978 before he fell to a brilliant catch off spinner Khushdil.Pakistan’s vaunted bowling attack failed to stop the tourists from scoring a big total, with Bavuma (82) and Heinrich Klaasen (87) also chipping in.With wickets not falling, frustrated Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi angrily clashed with Breetzke as the batsman attempted to complete a run.Shaheen made physical contact and exchanged words with his rival before umpire Asif Yaqoob separated the pair.”I was frustrated at my shot and Shaheen thought I said something to him but nothing serious. We are good friends,” said Breetzke.Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi (22), one of four changes in the South African team, put on 51 for the opening stand. The captain then built a second-wicket stand of 119 with Breetzke.Bavuma was run out after cracking 13 boundaries in his 96-ball knock.Klaasen lifted the tempo with a rapid 56-ball knock, smashing three sixes and 11 boundaries as the South Africans added 110 runs in the last 10 overs.Kyle Verreynne and Corbin Bosch remained not out with 44 and 15 respectively to take South Africa past 350.Brief Scores:South Africa 352-5 (H. Klaasen 87, M. Breetzke 83, T. Bavuma 82, K. Verreynne 44 not out; Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-66) v Pakistan 355-4 in 49 overs (Salman Agha 134, Mohammad Rizwan 122 not out; W. Mulder 2-79)Result: Pakistan won by six wicketsToss: South AfricaFinal: New Zealand vs Pakistan, Friday in Karachi

Jasprit Bumrah’s absence from India’s Champions Trophy team will be an opportunity for “world-class” Mohammed Shami and other fast bowlers, coach Gautam Gambhir said Wednesday.Bumrah was ruled out of the 50-over tournament starting February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai in a big blow to India’s chances of landing the title.India — ranked number one in ODI cricket — hammered England by 142 runs in the final match to sweep the series 3-0 in a perfect tune-up for the Champions Trophy.But Bumrah’s lower back injury remained the talking point after India’s triumph in Ahmedabad.”If he’s injured, he’s injured, whether it’s me, whether it’s the captain, we can’t do much about it,” Gambhir told reporters.”Obviously, we know that he’s an important factor. But as I mentioned, people like Harshit (Rana), Arshdeep (Singh), Mohammed Shami, all these guys will put their hand up. It’s a great opportunity for them to try and deliver for the country.”Fast bowler Harshit Rana was handed his ODI debut at the start of the series and he returned with six wickets in the three matches.Left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh claimed two wickets in the only outing in the final match.But it is Shami’s return at the start of the white-ball series that has boosted India’s morale ahead of the eight-nation Champions Trophy.Shami, 34, recovered from a heel injury to make his international return in the T20 matches after he went on a break following India’s 2023 World Cup final loss to Australia.”Look, it’s always good to have a world-class bowler back,” said Gambhir. “With his experience, with his quality, we all know what he can do with the ball in his hand.”Shami returned with five wickets in T20s and ODIs after he was made to skip matches but bowled long spells with speed and precision.”Obviously, we were trying to manage his workload,” said the former India batsman. “That’s the reason why we played him two T20s and two one-dayers. Hopefully, he’s going to be fresh and ready to go in the Champions Trophy.”India begin their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20 before they clash with arch-rivals Pakistan three days later in Dubai.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a series of agreements Wednesday to boost trade and defence ties between the Muslim-majority nations, including the delivery of 69 Turkish combat drones to Jakarta.The Turkish leader was visiting Southeast Asia’s largest economy after travelling to Malaysia and before heading to Pakistan on a four-day tour of key allies in the Islamic world.He was greeted at a presidential palace in Bogor, a city south of the capital Jakarta, by a traditional marching band, national anthems and schoolchildren waving flags.”We are committed to increasing trade between the two countries, which is mutually beneficial,” Prabowo said after the talks.”We also agree to increase joint production and cooperation in the defence industry.”Prabowo said that would include joint training for soldiers and closer collaboration on counter-terrorism and intelligence.”We have looked at further opportunities for collaboration in the defence sector,” Erdogan said.Turkish manufacturer Baykar and Indonesian company Republikorp agreed on the delivery of 60 Turkish Bayraktar TB3 drones and nine Akinci medium-to-high altitude combat drones capable of carrying missiles, reported the Turkish national news agency Anadolu. Akinci drones can carry a 1,500-kilogram payload, according to Baykar’s website.Over time, some parts will be built in Indonesia. A dozen agreements on trade, energy, higher education and religious affairs were signed by ministers and officials, including a deal to manufacture drones in Indonesia, as the pair watched on.Prabowo earlier called Erdogan “my close friend, my brother” and said both sides were also trying to accelerate the signing of a free trade agreement.The leaders held their nations’ first High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting before the agreements were signed.Erdogan said the pair discussed global issues including Syria and the Palestinian cause, alongside future deals seeking to boost their trade to $10 billion a year.Trade between Indonesia and Turkey in 2024 was worth $2.4 billion, according to Indonesia’s trade ministry.The leaders last met in July for talks in the Turkish capital Ankara before then-defence minister Prabowo was officially inaugurated as Indonesia’s president.Relations between the two countries grew closer under Prabowo’s predecessor Joko Widodo, who paid a state visit to Turkey in 2017.In 2023, Indonesia purchased 12 Turkish drones worth around $300 million in a push to upgrade its ageing military.Both are members of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation where they are staunch supporters of Palestinians and vocal critics of Israel.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited southern France with a packed schedule on Wednesday, fostering a relationship that Paris sees as an alternative to great power rivalries.Macron took Modi for dinner in the picturesque southern town of Cassis on Tuesday, before Wednesday’s visit to the Mediterranean coast and France’s second-biggest city, Marseille.They began the day with a homage to Indian soldiers who died in France during World War I, at the Mazargues military cemetery south of Marseille.They then inaugurated India’s new consulate general in Marseille, an event that drew a small crowd of cheering Indians.Then it was time for business, with a visit to global sea freight company CMA CGM.Both leaders have been discussing a project called India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a railway and maritime corridor between India and Europe via the Middle East destined to rival China’s Belt and Road Initiative.”We see the relevance of (the) IMEC projet,” Macron said during the visit. “Marseille can be clearly the entry point for the whole European market.”At the end of a French-Indian business forum, Macron had already praised IMEC as a “fabulous catalyst” for “concrete projects and investment”.Paris also hopes to sell billions of dollars worth of Rafale fighter jets to India’s navy, as well as submarines of the Scorpene class.And Macron is aiming for increased cooperation with India in the nuclear energy sector, notably with the development of small modular reactors (SMRs).- ‘Acting as a bridge’ -Wednesday’s schedule included a visit to the experimental nuclear fusion facility ITER, an international project aimed at next-level energy generation, in which France and India are involved, as are the United States, Russia and China.”These countries face tensions in geopolitics, but here they are working together,” said the site’s director-general, Pietro Barabaschi. “Here everybody leaves their passport at the door,” he told AFP.Modi has visited France during high-profile events before, including for the traditional Bastille Day parade in 2023 and this week’s French-organised summit on artificial intelligence (AI).Macron said at the weekend that the relationship with India’s premier is part of France’s strategy of seeking an alternative to the superpower rivalry between the United States and China.”India and France are two great powers who are very closely aligned in our desire to work with the United States of America, and to work with China, but we don’t want to be dependent on anybody,” Macron said on French television. “We want to be independent.”A former French government minister, who asked not to be identified, told AFP that Macron had “the right intuition” because “Modi, who is leading an emerging power, has found a balanced position between the Americans, the Chinese and the Russians”.But some observers highlight the political dangers for Macron in sidling up to Modi, who is much criticised for his ultra-nationalist Hindu agenda and alleged autocratic stance at home.”The idea of acting as a bridge between the north and the south is a constant in France’s rhetoric,” observed Bertrand Badie, an international relations specialist at the Sciences-Po university.”But this forces Macron to stay silent on the domestic policies” pursued by Modi, he said.Modi left France in the early afternoon for Washington where he is to meet US President Donald Trump.

Mathew Breetzke became the first batter to score a hundred and a half-century in his opening two one-day internationals as South Africa made 352-5 against Pakistan in Karachi on Wednesday.The 26-year-old followed his 150 against New Zealand in Lahore on Monday with an attractive 84-ball 83, spiced with a six and 10 boundaries, after South Africa won the toss.The winner of this match will play New Zealand in Friday’s final in Karachi. The tri-series is a warm-up for the Champions Trophy that starts in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates next week.Breetzke bettered West Indian batter Desmond Haynes’s aggregate of 195 runs in his first two matches in 1978 before he fell to a brilliant catch off spinner Khushdil Shah.Pakistan’s vaunted bowling attack failed to stop the tourists from scoring a big total, with skipper Temba Bavuma (82) and Heinrich Klaasen (87) also chipping in.Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi (22), one of four changes in the South African team, put on 51 for the opening stand. The captain then built a second-wicket stand of 119 with Breetzke.Bavuma was run out after cracking 13 boundaries in his 96-ball knock.Klaasen lifted the tempo with a rapid 56-ball knock, smashing three sixes and 11 boundaries as the South Africans added 110 runs in the last 10 overs.Kyle Verreynne and Corbin Bosch remained not out with 44 and 15 respectively to take South Africa past 350.Spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi was Pakistan’s best bowler with 2-66.

Sri Lanka pulled off a stunning comeback against world champions Australia to clinch a 49-run victory in the first one-day international on Wednesday after a century by captain Charith Asalanka.Defending a modest target of 215, Sri Lanka bowled out the visitors for 165 inside 34 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.Asalanka smashed a career-best 127 before chipping in with the crucial wicket of Alex Carey, while Maheesh Theekshana took 4-40 to help scuttle Australia’s chase.”Really pleased with the knock,” Asalanka said. “It wasn’t easy batting out there… Had to settle in and then batting with the tail had to take a few risks, and glad it all paid off.”Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka found themselves in dire straits at 133-8 in the 33rd over, with Australia’s four-pronged pace attack running riot.Asalanka’s strike rate was just shy of a run a ball and included 14 fours and five sixes.His ninth-wicket stand with Eshan Malinga was a stadium record of 79, even though the tailender made just a solitary run from 26 balls.”He hung in there and all we wanted to do was to take the game as deep as possible,” Asalanka said. “If not for that partnership we wouldn’t have got over the line.”Asalanka refused to throw in the towel and was last man out when he was deceived by a cleverly disguised slower delivery from Sean Abbott (3-61).The packed crowd rose to their feet to see him back to the pavilion, while opposite number Steve Smith and wicketkeeper Alex Carey acknowledged his knock with a pat on the back.  Australia’s chase never really got going, with Asitha Fernando dismissing both openers cheaply before Sri Lanka’s spinners tightened the noose.Dunith Wellalage struck with his very first ball to clean up Smith, who had tormented Sri Lanka with back-to-back centuries in the Test series. Smith misjudged a slog sweep and was out before he had settled in, a huge breakthrough that sent the crowd into raptures.White-ball stalwarts Glenn Maxwell and Travis Head were rested to give other squad members match practice ahead of the Champions Trophy beginning in Pakistan and Dubai on February 19.Australia’s bid to win that tournament has been dealt a major setback with their formidable pace attack of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood all ruled out.Sri Lanka did not qualify for the Champions Trophy.

Top-order batsman Shubman Gill kept up his good form to hit 112 and help India reach 356 all out in the third and final one-day international against England on Wednesday.Gill put on 116 runs for the second wicket with Virat Kohli, who hit 52, laying the foundation for a challenging total after they were put in to bat first in Ahmedabad.Shreyas Iyer also hit a 64-ball 78 as England’s bowlers struggled, apart from leg-spinner Adil Rashid’s impressive 4-64.Skipper Rohit Sharma departed for one, caught behind off Mark Wood in a disappointing outing after his 119 in the previous match gave India an unbeatable 2-0 series lead.Gill, who took back the opening spot from Yashasvi Jaiswal, raised his third successive fifty after scores of 87 and 60 in the first two wins.Kohli reached a run-a-ball fifty to get back among the runs after an inconsistent Test series in Australia.Rashid got Kohli with a delivery that pitched in the middle and spun sharply to take the bat’s edge and land in the gloves of wicketkeeper Phil Salt.Kohli was dismissed by Rashid in Cuttack and his latest dismissal was the fifth time he fell to the leg-spinner in 10 meetings.Gill, who leads the series batting with 259 runs, kept up the pace and put on 104 runs with Iyer before he was bowled off a googly by Rashid.Iyer reached his second half-century of the series but also fell to Rashid, who struck again when he bowled Hardik Pandya after being hit for two straight sixes.Wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul smashed 40 off 29 balls before late strikes finished the Indian innings, with number 10 Arshdeep Singh run out on the final ball.The series is a tune-up ahead of the Champions Trophy starting next Wednesday in Pakistan and Dubai.Brief scoresIndia 356 all out in 50 overs (S. Gill 112, V. Kohli 52, S. Iyer 78, KL Rahul 40; A. Rashid 4-64, M. Wood 2-45) v EnglandToss: England