Coming off a socio-economic crisis and the worst turmoil in its country's history, the Sri Lankan cricket team would like to provide the island nation with an emotional catharsis by beating fancied Pakistan in the Asia Cup final in Dubai on Sunday.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube blasted quickfire half-century as India thrashed Afghanistan by six wickets in the second T20 International against Afghanistan.
Mohammad Hafeez scored a scintillating unbeaten 86 as Pakistan held their nerve to defeat England by five runs in the third and final Twenty20 International at Old Trafford on Tuesday to tie the series 1-1.
England's stand-in skipper Jos Buttler top-scored with 59 before their spinners ripped through the Pakistan batting unit to seal a 45-run win in the second Twenty20 International and level the series at 1-1 on Sunday.
Pakistan's poor fielding was a major talking point in the final ODI but they turned up on the night, taking difficult catches in the deep and even inflicting a run out with a direct hit.
Six of the 10 Pakistan cricketers bound for England who tested positive for COVID-19 have now registered negative results on re-testing, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Saturday. Mohammad Hasnain, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafeez and Wahab Riaz, however, must return a second negative result before they can join the main squad of 20 players who will leave for England on Sunday.
IMAGES from the ICC World Cup match played between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
"It was a treat to watch you play, the six off the back foot in the 19th over against (Haris) Rauf over long-on was spectacular. Keep it going," Tendulkar tweeted.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index after 45 World Cup 2023 games.
He finished a stellar T20 International career, registering the record for most by runs any player in T20 World Cups -- 1,292 runs in 35 matches.
Having found his mojo back after a prolonged lean patch, Kohli was at his attacking best but slowing down cost him and India 20-25 runs.
Zimbabwe shocked Pakistan by one run in a thrilling T20 World Cup Super 12 match at Perth Stadium, in Perth, on Thursday.
Left-arm spinner Nauman claimed a career-best 6-107 on a flat track where bowlers struggled for success.
Though dominating Pakistan on home soil, Australia have not beaten them away since the 2002/03 series played in Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index of World Cup 2023 after the first 12 games.
Great players have the knack of conquering the odds, and on Sunday Kohli crossed a major hurdle with the fighting spirit of a champion.
Pakistan expects England to reciprocate and tour in 2022.
I have no idea how that happened, lost for words, says Virat Kohli
IMAGES from the Asia Cup Super 4 match played between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Colombo on Thursday.
'The best part about what I loved about him (doing that) is we struggled, bro. Why it was so special was we struggled together. This would've been not this special if we had just cruised through.'
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index after 23 World Cup 2023 games.
Pakistan will aim to maintain their remarkable consistency against a spirited Namibia and seal a semi-final spot in the T20 World Cup in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Rohit's men start overwhelming favourites but Shaheen, rain pose threat
Pakistan play a three-match Test series against England starting on August 5, followed by three T20 International matches.
Pressure is on India, Pakistan have nothing to lose: Shoaib Akhtar on India-Pakistan World Cup clash
The 42-day break would give Kohli the time to introspect, and rejuvenate his cluttered mind.
Pakistan's weakened pace attack in the absence of injured Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah, didn't offer a challenge to Conway and Latham with the new ball as both batters took New Zealand to 41-0 by tea before adding 124 more runs in the final session.
Devon Conway's struck 63 to help the hosts score 173/7 in their 20 overs.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index after 29 World Cup 2023 games.
For South Africa, Rassie van der Dussen has advanced three slots to the sixth position, just one shy of his career-best, after scores of 34 not out and 52.
IMAGES from the ICC World Cup match played between Australia and Pakistan in Bengaluru, on Friday.
'Cricket as a pathway in the US was not something people thought about 10 years ago, even like five years ago.' 'But now that there is a pathway you can see.'
IMAGES of the T20 World Cup match played between India and Pakistan at the MCG on Sunday
Images from the ICC Men's ODI World Cup match between India and Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday, October 14.
Pakistan will have 'revenge' on their mind for a recent off-field snub when they take on New Zealand in the T20 World Cup in Sharjah on Tuesday.
No place for hooliganism in cricket, says angry PCB chief
Images from the Asia Cup Super 4 match between India and Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday.
KL Rahul has struggled at the top of the order, managing just 36 runs at a strike rate of 90 in the first two matches against Pakistan and Hong Kong.
Images from the second One-Day International between Bangladesh and India, in Chattogram, on Saturday.
His right knee is currently believed to be in a brace. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has stated that it will take some time to make a proper assessment of the injury and give more information. Shaheen will fly back home via Mumbai with the rest of the side on Monday.
