Pakistan named four pace bowlers in their line-up for the first Test against Sri Lanka and three youngsters who have yet to make their Test debut. Pakistan captain Younis Khan said the 12 players selected for the match, which begins on Saturday, includes opener Khurrum Manzoor and pace bowlers Sohail Khan and Mohammad Talha, untried at Test level. Manzoor and Khan have played ODIs but Talha is yet to play at any level for Pakistan.
Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will miss the Test series against Sri Lanka next month because of a knee injury. Pakistan team coach Intikhab Alam said Shoaib would need at least three weeks to recover from the surgery, ruling the 33-year-old out of the two home Tests being played between February 23 and March 6.
Indian ODI skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has opted out of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka citing exhaustion.
Three leading international news agencies are set to boycott this week's first cricket Test match between Australia and Sri Lanka after organisers demanded payment for the right to distribute photographs from the event.
Australia fast bowler Shaun Tait has been ruled out of the first Test against Sri Lanka with an elbow injury. Seamer Ben Hilfenhaus will take his place.
Uncapped duo Jake Ball and James Vince have been named in England's squad for their home test against Sri Lanka at Headingley on May 19, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Thursday.
He is the ninth bowler and fifth spinner to complete the feat in Tests.
The first India-Sri Lanka Test began at Mohali on Friday.
England fast bowler Matthew Hoggard was included in a 12-man squad for the third and final Test against Sri Lanka, starting in Galle on Tuesday. Fast bowler Stuart Broad, who made his debut in the drawn second Test, was left out to accommodate the possible return of oggard, who missed the second Test with a back injury.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Tuesday awarded three Test matches of the November-December home series against Sri Lanka to Kolkata, Nagpur and Delhi while the newly-constructed stadium in Barasapara, Guwahati was awarded a marquee T20 International against Australia in October.
The 25-year-old bowler was rewarded for a good showing on the 'A' team's tour of India.
'It's a relief for other teams that Bumrah and Harshal aren't playing this Asia Cup!' Irfan told Waqar.
Looking for a proper tune-up before the three-match Test series against hosts Sri Lanka gets underway, India would be hoping that rain stays away from their one and only three-day practice game beginning at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, on Thursday.
Virender Sehwag has said India's upcoming tour to Sri Lanka will be a closely-fought affair.
The 34-year-old briefly captained Sri Lanka's Test side in 2018 in the absence of Dinesh Chandimal due to a ball-tampering ban, winning his first match as skipper against West Indies at the Kensington Oval.
The 31-year-old has been ruled out of the opening test due to a mild hamstring strain, the Team India Director Ravi Shastri said in Colombo, on Monday.
'He has played 100 Tests, he deserves respect.'
Joe Root continued with his purple patch during the first Ashes Test against Australia at Edgbaston, bringing up his 30th Test century.
According to media reports, uncapped Shiran Fernando tested positive, along with fellow pace bowler Isuru Udana and bowling coach Chaminda Vaas.
'Given that they are playing at home and will have full crowd support, India, who are in peak form and whose morale is high, will be the favourites.'
Images from Day 4 of the fourth and final Test between India and Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, on Sunday.
Jasprit Bumrah jumped six spots to fourth but struggling star batter Virat Kohli slipped to ninth
Learning from playing in Sri Lanka, Pakistan will help us in India, says Cummins
Wriddhiman Saha opted out of Bengal's Ranji Trophy campaign after being categorically told that he will not be picked for India's two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, starting in Mohali on March 4.
Meanwhile, the entire visiting contingent has detected negative for coronavirus in their second PCR COVID-19 test done on Friday.
Wriddhiman Saha revealed how he was threatened by a journalist after turning down an interview request.
Earlier, former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar had made an appeal to his fans in Pakistan to come forward and help India in tackling the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Sourav Ganguly has gone against the Board's constitution by attending every selection meeting since taking over the BCCI president, said the Indian Express revealed on Friday.
The former India captain not just rejected the accusations thrown at him but also offered a gentle reminder to his critics -- much before becoming the BCCI boss, he was a celebrated India cricketer and played in a whopping 424 international matches -- 113 of them Tests.
Leg-spinner Yasir Shah marks his return to the national men's team as Pakistan on Wednesday announced an 18-member squad for next month's two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Test captain Dinesh Chandimal was withdrawn on Monday from the 16-member squad for the Asia Cup because of an injury during a recent domestic tournament. The 28-year-old batsman injured a finger during a domestic Twenty20 match and needed more time to recover, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said.
The 30-year-old will lead the team while playing his first one-day game since 2015.
England's selectors are acutely aware of the impact on players of bio-secure bubbles and with a demanding year ahead, are making sure they protect their key performers.
AB de Villiers will avoid putting extra stress on a hamstring injury by playing as a batsman only in the first Sri Lanka Test with Quinton de Kock taking over wicketkeeping duties, South Africa captain Hashim Amla said on Tuesday.
PCB chief Mani has called India a 'far greater security risk' than his strife-torn country.
According to PTI, the chairman of selectors, Chetan Sharma has asked the duo to regain form by playing Ranji Trophy.
Sourav Ganguly, on Tuesday, inspected the pitch that will play host to the first India-Sri Lanka Test and insisted that the track will produce a good contest.
"He was arrested early this morning for drinking and driving after the vehicle driven by him hit a three wheeler and injured its driver," police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera told Reuters.
Dhaka is due to host two official T20 matches in March next year to mark the birth centenary of Bangladesh's Father of Nation, Mujibur Rahaman.
Allrounder Angelo Mathews has been appointed Sri Lanka's Test and ODI captain, replacing Mahela Jayawardene, for a period of one year.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances