England face fellow strugglers Sri Lanka in a must-win World Cup match on Thursday.
Bangladesh handed Sri Lanka a crushing seven-wicket defeat in their first warm-up match of the ICC ODI World Cup, in Guwahati on Friday to make a winning start.
After playing a major role in Chennai Super Kings' IPL triumph, young pace bowler Matheesha Pathirana will be hoping to make the same impact for Sri Lanka in the ODI series against Afghanistan.
Sunday's team announcement followed reports that the Bangladesh Cricket Board is seeking to move their World Cup matches out of India.
It is learnt that India was mulling various options relating to the project after Trump administration threatened a 25 per cent additional tariff on countries doing business with Tehran.
Months after the Asia Cup final ended in an unprecedented trophy snub, the controversy has resurfaced -- this time through a pointed comment from former Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi that has sparked sharp reactions across social media.
Sri Lanka left with regrets after squandering strong start: Pathum Nissanka
Dushmantha Chameera has been ruled out of Thursday's crunch T20 World Cup clash against Netherlands
The Men in Blue, led by newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir, arrived in Sri Lanka for a six-match white-ball series on Monday.
Sri Lanka, who are third in the WTC rankings behind already qualified Australia and India, will need to beat New Zealand 2-0.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri attended the swearing-in ceremony.
Pakistan's cricket team is preparing for the T20 World Cup, including a potential match against India, pending government approval.
He's a tough one, the one we'll have to look out for: Short on mystery tweaker Varun
Anil Kumble has backed leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy to spearhead India's spin attack during next month's T20 World Cup as he believes he will have no issue dealing with the evening dew
Afghanistan will begin their World Cup campaign against New Zealand on February 8 in Chennai.
In this rivalry, numbers fade and national pride takes centre stage.
Last minute T20 World Cup entrants Scotland have included Afghan-born uncapped pacer Zainullah Ihsan in their 15-member squad for the ICC event beginning in India and Sri Lanka on February 7.
Jasprit Bumrah is also only the second Indian to reach the landmark of 100 wickets in T20Is.
Cash-strapped Sri Lanka has decided to temporarily shut its embassies in Norway and Iraq, as well as the country's consulate general in Sydney, the ministry of foreign affairs said on Tuesday.
'Mark had such a profound understanding of India, which was, of course, the land of his birth as well as of his death... He loved India, and lived two-thirds of his life here.'
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has declined to comment on reports claiming he held discussions with CPI(M) members in Dubai. CPI(M) dismisses speculation about Tharoor joining, while Congress denies he is leaving.
Bangladesh's aggrieved cricketers called off their boycott "in the greater interest of the game" after the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the players' welfare association arrived at a consensus.
In all the three group matches, Sri Lanka thrived while chasing and one would expect the Islanders to continue the same trend if they win the toss on Saturday.
In the final over, when the nerves jangled, it was Bangladesh who stayed composed and savoured the sweet taste of success. Sri Lanka's 8-match winning streak in the T20 Asia Cup came to a bitter end with this defeat.
Italy are gearing up for their Twenty20 World Cup debut, hoping a strong showing next month will help the sport break into popular culture in a soccer-obsessed nation that does not have a natural cricket pitch.
Smriti Mandhana's stroke-filled 94 off 83 balls and Shafali Verma's run-a-ball 71 paved the way for the convincing win.
Suspended by the ICC for "political interference", Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will soon introduce a new law to curb meddling of any sorts by people with considerable influence in the corridors of power.
Rain forced the T20 World Cup Group D match between Sri Lanka and Nepal in Florida on Tuesday to be called off without a ball being bowled.
Pakistan batting star Babar Azam was fined 10 per cent of his match fee and handed a demerit point for hitting the stumps with his bat after being dismissed in the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi.
Joe Burns, the former Australian cricketer who masterminded Italy's fairytale qualification to their maiden T20 World Cup, will miss the tournament after being dropped by the Italian Cricket Federation (FCRI) amid contractual wrangles.
Mohammad Azharuddin has supported the International Cricket Council (ICC) decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026.
Pratika Rawal along with left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma and seamer Kranti Gaud received their maiden long-format call-ups for the one-off Test against Australia.
The source said that the PCB has now started the search for a new head coach of the Test side, and there could be an overhaul of the support staff as well.
Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu says it will be a "miracle" if her team is able to seal a semi-final berth in the women's World Cup despite notching a thrilling seven-run victory over Bangladesh, in Navi Mumbai, on Monday.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board said the ICC has "conveyed willingness to work closely" with it to address concerns related to the team's participation in the T20 World Cup.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated the Indian blind women's cricket team for winning the inaugural T20 World Cup.
Gill, who was vice-captain of the T20I side, was the most high-profile absentee when the national selectors named a 15-member squad for the global showpiece in India and Sri Lanka starting February 7.
The Asia Cup is "likely" to be moved out of Sri Lanka in the wake of political unrest in the island nation, SLC secretary Mohan de Silva said on Sunday, adding that the tournament could be played in the UAE.
Ireland snaps 14-month win drought, defends 181 to beat Bangladesh in T20I opener
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances