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England to face Sri Lanka in 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup opener

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The tournament will kickstart on June 12.

Hosts England are set to play the opening encounter of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup against Sri Lanka, as per the schedule released by the England and Wales Cricket Board on Tuesday.

The 33-match tournament is set to kickstart at Edgbaston on June 12, with the final to be played on July 5 at Lord’s.

The 12 teams participating in the tournament will be split in two groups of six each, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the semifinals, both of which will be played at the Oval on June 30 and July 2, respectively.

Group 1 includes Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan and two qualifying teams. Meanwhile, Group 2 includes England, West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and two more qualifying teams. The marquee India vs Pakistan clash will also be played in Edgbaston, on June 14.

Apart from Lord’s, Oval and Edgbaston, Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Bristol County Ground and Hampshire Bowl will also host games of the World Cup. The games are scheduled to start, as per local time, at 10:30 AM, 2:30 PM and 6:30 PM.

Speaking on the tournament, England skipper, Nat Sciver-Brunt, said: “World Cups are always special, but this one already feels different – it has the potential to be truly game-changing. It’s going to be a huge moment for our sport and a brilliant opportunity to inspire young people and captivate fans across the country. Playing on home soil, for the biggest prize, against the best players in the world, it’s going to be unmissable. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Meanwhile, Beth Barrett-Wild, the Tournament Director, added: “The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup provides us with an unparalleled opportunity to transform a month of sporting excellence into a movement that will rewrite the narrative about women’s cricket. At iconic venues across the country, we’ll see incredible, world-class athletes battling it out in out in front of hundreds of thousands of fans, who with every ball bowled and run scored, will be contributing to lasting change. It’s our opportunity to give women’s cricket, and women’s sport, the stage it deserves.”

Group 1: Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Qualifier, Qualifier

Group 2: West Indies, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Qualifier, Qualifier

Schedule

Friday June 12: England v Sri Lanka, Edgbaston (D/N)

Saturday June 13: Qualifier v Qualifier, Old Trafford Cricket Ground

Saturday June 13: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford Cricket Ground

Saturday June 13: West Indies v New Zealand, Hampshire Bowl (D/N)

Sunday June 14: Qualifier v Qualifier, Edgbaston

Sunday June 14: India v Pakistan, Edgbaston

Tuesday June 16: New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Hampshire Bowl

Tuesday June 16: England v Qualifier, Hampshire Bowl (D/N)

Wednesday June 17: Australia v Qualifier, Headingley

Wednesday June 17: India v Qualifier, Headingley

Wednesday June 17: South Africa v Pakistan, Edgbaston (D/N)

Thursday June 18: West Indies v Qualifier, Headingley (D/N)

Friday June 19: New Zealand v Qualifier, Hampshire Bowl (D/N)

Saturday June 20: Australia v Qualifier, Hampshire Bowl

Saturday June 20: Pakistan v Qualifier, Hampshire Bowl

Saturday June 20: England v Qualifier, Headingley (D/N)

Sunday June 21: West Indies v Sri Lanka, Bristol County Ground

Sunday June 21: South Africa v India, Old Trafford Cricket Ground

Tuesday June 23: New Zealand v Qualifier, Bristol County Ground

Tuesday June 23: Sri Lanka v Qualifier, Bristol County Ground

Tuesday June 23: Australia v Pakistan, Headingley (D/N)

Wednesday June 24: England v West Indies, Lord’s Cricket Ground (D/N)

Thursday June 25: India v Qualifier, Old Trafford Cricket Ground

Thursday June 25: South Africa v Qualifier, Bristol County Ground (D/N)

Friday June 26: Sri Lanka v Qualifier, Old Trafford Cricket Ground (D/N)

Saturday June 27: Pakistan v Qualifier, Bristol County Ground

Saturday June 27: West Indies v Qualifier, Bristol County Ground

Saturday June 27: England v New Zealand, The Oval (D/N)

Sunday June 28: South Africa v Qualifier, Lord’s Cricket Ground

Sunday June 28: Australia v India, Lord’s Cricket Ground

Tuesday June 30: TBC v TBC (Semi Final 1), The Oval

Thursday July 2: TBC v TBC (Semi Final 2), The Oval – D/N

Sunday July 5: TBC v TBC (The Final), Lord’s Cricket Ground

(Cricbuzz)



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Achintha smashes 1,500 metres record at All Island Schools Games

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Lahiru Achintha broke the Under 18 boys' 1,500 metres record.
‎by Reemus Fernando 
‎
‎Promising middle distance runner Lahiru Achintha continued his record breaking sphere with a remarkable sub four minutes feat in the 1,500 metres at the All Island Schools Games Athletics Championship at Diyagama today (17).

‎The Asian Youth Games gold medallist who has run sub four minutes previously returned a time of 3:55.97 seconds to become the first athlete in his age category at these championships to run the distance under four minutes.

‎Achintha who has a personal best of 3:53.05 from last year was representing Prince College Ratnapura today.

‎In another impressive 1,500 m feat Tharushi Abhisheka of Lyceum International School, Wattala established a new meet record in the Under-20 Girls’ 1,500m as she returned a time of 4:34.59 seconds to win.

‎By the end of the second day of the meet seven new meet records had been established.

‎

‎D. V. C. de Soysa (of Galewela Central College) Under-16 Boys’ Discus Throw – 55.83m.

‎D. G. Lahiru Achintha (of Ratnapura Kumara Vidyalaya) Under-18 Boys’ 1,500m – 3:55.97 secs.

‎W. P. Nethula Induwara (Rahula College, Matara) Under-14 Boys’ 100m – 11.70 seconds

‎K. V. R. Gayesha (Ira Handa Kotuwa Wewa Maha Vidyalaya, Polonnaruwa) Under-16 Girls’ High Jump – 1.70m

‎H. M. D. S. Herath (Maris Stella College, Thimbirigaskatuwa) Under-20 Boys’ Long Jump – 7.65m

‎P. M. Amaya Semindi (Vijitha Central College, Dikwella) Under-14 Girls’ High Jump – 1.58m

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Pakistan, Sri Lanka look to find the right mix as World Cup countdown begins

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Arafat Minhas made his ODI debut earlier this year (Cricinfo)

Sri Lanka’s  men begin this match having won an international in the past week. This is more significant than it sounds. Their 2026 has been abysmal, with the team losing 22 matches to the 10 they have won. New captain Kusal Mendis  had carried his team to that victory with his 87 not out off 48 balls, after Sri Lanka’s seamers had also had an encouraging outing.

But the game was only a dead rubber, Pakistan having sewn up the T20I series already. Pakistan have hardly been lighting up 2026 either, but they have had substantially more success than Sri Lanka. They had won their most recent ODI series, against Australia, 2-1. In that series, Pakistan may even have discovered a bright young all-round talent, left-arm spinner and lower-order batter Arafat Minhas, who claimed the Player of the Series award for his seven wickets at an average of 12.28. He has been in penetrative form in the past 10 days as well, having claimed five wickets across the three T20Is against Sri Lanka. Against Australia, Pakistan had also had excellent performances from Shaheen Afridi and legspinner Abrar Ahmed. It had, in fact, been Pakistan’s bowlers who dominated in a low-scoring series.

The tri-series is important for all three sides because there is now officially less than 12 months before the World Cup, which is set to begin on October 2 next year. Sri Lanka still have plenty to figure out – their white-ball squads having been in serious flux this year, as a new set of selectors searches (often fruitlessly) for a winning combination. Pakistan have players and stratetgies to trial as well.

In the series against Australia, Babar Azam had top-scored for Pakistan, hitting 40, 16, and 69 to average 41.66 across the matches. No one will call it a return to his heyday, but it was an encouraging sign following a modest run in 2025, in which he averaged 34 across 17 innings. Sri Lanka has been one of his favoured opponents over the years, Babar having struck four of his 20 centuries against them, averaging 58.33. The tracks in Rawalpindi at least are expected to be good for batting. Can he build up some form in the one format he now plays?

Lahiru Udara has reason to feel miffed at the selectors, many think. Having hit 188 against West Indies three Tests ago, he was left out of the squad entirely for the forthcoming Test series. But with Pathum Nissanka having been ruled out of the ODIs through an ongoing hamstring problem, Udara has surged into ODI contention on the back of a good T20I innings last week. At age 32, he knows his chances at this level are numbered. With the World Cup on the horizon, there is perhaps no better format to impress in right now than ODIs.

With neither Sahibzada Farhan nor Maaz Sadaqat in the ODI squad, Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman may open.

Pakistan (possible): Saim Ayub,  Fakhar Zaman,  Hasan Nawaz, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha,  Shadab Khan, Ghazi Ghouri (wk), Minhas Arafat,  Shaheen Afridi (capt.),  Haris Rauf,  Naseem Shah

Sri Lanka may bring Avishka Fernando straight into the XI, with Kamil Mishara having had a run of modest scores. Sri Lanka also have some decisions to make on the spin-bowling front, although they are likely to favour Maheesh Theekshana over legspinner Sachindu Colombage.

Sri Lanka (possible): Lahiru Udara,  Avishka Fernando,  Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), Kamindu Mendis,  Sahan Arachchige/Pavan Rathnayake, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage,  Dushmantha Chameera,  Eshan Malinga,  Maheesh Theekshana,  Asitha Fernando

(Cricinfo)

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Mumbai Indians and head coach Mahela Jayawardene part ways

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Mahela Jayawardene gets down to work (Cricinfo)

Mumbai Indians and their IPL head coach Mahela Jayawardene have parted ways ahead of the 2027 auction. Jayawardene was the MI head coach for the last two seasons, in his second stint with the franchise in that position. He had previously served in that role from 2017 to 2022.

“Mumbai Indians has been a very special part of my journey for over a decade now,” Jayawardene said in an MI statement. “The players, coaching team, the incredible support of the #OneFamily and above all the fans have made this an experience I will always treasure. Together, we have shared some unforgettable moments, overcome challenges and built something we can all be proud of. I want to sincerely thank Mrs. Nita Ambani and Akash Ambani for their unwavering trust, support and friendship over the years. I leave with immense pride in what we have achieved together and will always carry a special place in my heart for MI. I wish the team every success in the years ahead.”

Cricinfo has learned that the question of a possible change in coaching staff came up during the 2026 season review in August, when both the player leadership group and the franchise agreed they needed to look for a change. It is understood Jayawardene, too, agreed with the viewpoint of bringing in younger coaches to bring in fresh perspectives.

The new coach will have the choice of taking a call on the rest of the existing MI coaching staff which includes Kieron Pollard (assistant coach) and Paras Mhambrey (bowling coach).

Jayawardene’ departure leaves MI’s team management in a tricky position, with captain Hardik Pandya also under the spotlight after their second-from-bottom finish in IPL 2026. Not long after MI finished with just four wins from 14 games, rumours of a Hardik trade began circulating in reports and social media. Hardik’s individual performance also didn’t inspire much confidence: he took just four wickets in 10 games and scored 206 runs from 10 innings, striking at 138.25 with a high score of 40.

Jayawardene took over as the MI head coach before IPL 2025, replacing Mark Boucher. Before that, Jayawardene had served as their global head of performance from 2022 to 2024. In that position, Jayawardene had also overseen MI’s three other franchises – MI Emirates in the ILT20, MI New York in MLC and MI Cape Town in SA20.

In his first stint as head coach, Jayawardene won three IPL titles. The second one was less successful, with MI finishing fourth on the league table in 2025 before losing in Qualifier 2, and ninth in 2026.

“Mahela has made a significant contribution to Mumbai Indians over the years,” MI owner Nita Ambani said, “His calm leadership, integrity and deep love for the game have meant so much to us. On behalf of the entire MI family, I want to thank Mahela for his immense contribution and unwavering commitment over the years. We will always cherish the journey we have shared and the memories we have created together. Mahela will always be a part of our #OneFamily, and we wish him every happiness and success in the journey ahead.”

MI now need to look for a head coach with under a month left for the IPL retention deadline – November 15. The IPL auction is expected to take place around a month later in Goa.

MI last won the IPL in 2020 when they became the first team to successfully defend their title. Both trophy wins came under Jayawardene.

(Cricinfo)

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