Australia's Gold Coast has been chosen to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the event's governing body said in St Kitts and Nevis on Friday. The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) opted for Gold Coast by a 43-27 margin over its only rival, the Sri Lankan city of Hambantota.
Shahidi Afridi claimed five wickets as Pakistan opened their World Cup campaign with a thumping 205-run victory over Kenya.
'Gotabaya will expect India to observe the red line.' 'He even dispensed with any gesture welcoming India as an interlocutor on the Tamil issue.' points out Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
'We should expect a cold-blooded, transactional relation that requires a lot of engagement and mutual trust to sustain,' says Constantino Xavier, Fellow, foreign policy, Brookings India.
According to observers, with pro-China Rajapaksa winning the election, the result will have a bearing on India's presence in the Indian Ocean region where Beijing is increasingly making inroads.
Both Mahinda Rajapaksa and Modi have learnt from their past mistakes. Modi has understood that Rajapaksa is a 'forever politician' that India has to live with, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by 22 runs in the second Twenty20 international in wind-swept Hambantota on Sunday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
It was a plan well executed, said Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara as he heaped praise on his team-mates for their clinical display in crushing minnows Canada in their opening World Cup match in Hambantota.
BCCI feels that the ICC's 'delaying tactic' could severely hurt IPL preparations.
After an eventful 19th Commonwealth Games in India last year, the CGF is all set to receive bids for the 2018 edition's hosting rights from Australia and Sri Lanka during a series of meetings from May 6 to 11.
West Indies have decided to cut short their current tour of Sri Lanka tour due to adverse weather conditions prevailing in the country.
Statistical highlights of the World Cup match between Pakistan and Canada in Colombo.
Pakistan defeated Kenya comfortably in their first match of the World Cup but skipper Shahid Afridi said his side will have to play with lot more energy if they desire to beat mighty Sri Lanka in front of their home crowd on Saturday.
Mahela Jayawardene scored the fastest century by a Sri Lankan in the history of the World Cup as the hosts crushed a hapless Canada by 210 runs to open their campaign in the mega event in grand style, in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, on Sunday.
Like Virender Sehwag on Saturday, the opening day of the World Cup, Mahela Jayawardene held centre stage when Sri Lanka took on minnows Canada in their tournament opener at home in Hambantota on Sunday.
Groups and fixtures for the 2012 ICC World Twenty20, to be held in Sri Lanka, from September 18 to October 7.
Colombo seems to be veering to the middle path between China and the US on global matters, but in regional matters of strategic security, it is increasingly identifying with India, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.
Rajneesh Gupta highlights important numbers featuring the Sri Lankan team from World Cups.
England captain Alastair Cook has been handed a one-match suspension for a second slow over-rate offence within 12 months, the International Cricket Council said.
Whatever its apprehensions and concerns about the regime of the Rajapaksa clan, India must be ready with unconditional assistance when Colombo asks for it. Because it will, observes Aditi Phadnis.
At the end of October, Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena handed over the deeds for the transfer of 116 hectares in Colombo Port City to China Harbour Engineering Company on a 99-year lease to build a financial centre.
Mahinda Rajapaksa completed 50 years of parliamentary politics in July this year. He was elected as a Member of Parliament at the young age of 24 in 1970. He has since been elected president twice and has been appointed prime minister thrice.
Sohaib Maqsood and Fawad Alam struck quick-fire fifties and combined in a record 147-run sixth wicket stand as Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by four wickets with one ball remaining in the first one-day international at Hambantota on Saturday.
Chances are any such disruption will not occur on the major shipping lanes but on some edge of the ocean between India and China. Even if there is no actual disruption, the costs of averting one can be punitive. The setting for this is provided by the energy shortage both countries face, says Subhomoy Bhattacharjee.
The aircraft carrier is China first domestically-built ship. Shandong is bigger than China's first aircraft carrier Liaoning and could house 36 fighter jets.
World champions India have consolidated their top rank on the ICC ODI Team Rankings after sweeping the series against Sri Lanka, which concluded in Ranchi on Sunday.
Sachin Tendulkar's 18-year-old son announced his arrival in the international arena with a wicket in his first 12 balls for India U-19, and the significance of the game was not lost on the cricket fraternity.
Sri Lanka's bowlers bundled out England for 185 before the hosts chased down the target with eight wickets to spare in the rain-hit second One-day international on Saturday to take a 2-0 lead in the seven-match series.
With conditions not favouring its progress, southwest monsoon is expected to hit the Kerala coast by June 4, three days after its normal onset date, the MET department has said.
Trump had accused Pakistan of providing safe havens to terrorists.
Facts on the Commonwealth Games to be held in Australia's Gold Coast:
'The curtain is coming down on India's leadership role as a regional power even before the drama of the Asian Century truly began,' warns Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
'If the Bangladesh-China relationship strengthens further, it can only be to India's detriment,' notes Vice Admiral Premvir Das.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Rajapaksa and said he looks forward to further deepen relations between the two nations.
Though dubbed as the 'war hero', the role of Rajapaksa in ending the conflict with the LTTE with the death of its supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran in 2009 is quite divisive as he stands accused of violating human rights, a charge he vehemently denies.
Inzamam-ul-Haq says the tenure has been the most challenging of his professional career as he was subjected to 'hurtful criticism'
Swing bowler Kyle Mills will captain New Zealand for the first time on his country's limited overs tour of Sri Lanka later this month after Kane Williamson was ruled out with a broken and dislocated thumb.
'The Chinese navy is large and expanding both in numbers and capability by the day.' 'India too must take measures to safeguard its own interests, now and in the future.'
'India needs to learn in Kashmir how to spread development.' 'Pakistan needs to learn in Balochistan how to spread development.' 'China needs to learn in Xinjiang and Tibet.' 'And if they can show tangible benefits, there will be less terrorism.' 'No one wakes up in the morning saying 'I want to kill myself', right?'
Munaf Patel joins Kandy Tuskers in LPL; Sarfaraz pulls out, Malinga unsure
