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Settled Sri Lanka meet a Bangladesh in transition for ODI series opener
After a hard-fought Test series, the action now switches to the white-ball format, with the first of three ODIs starting today [Wednesday]. For Bangladesh it’s the dawn of a new era in many ways. They have a new ODI captain for starters, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz taking over from Najmul Hossain Shanto, but more pressingly are the recent retirements of stalwarts Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah.
To say it signals a changing of the guard would be an almost textbook definition of the idiom, in fact, as Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah were the last remaining vestiges of Bangladesh’s fab five, which also included Mashrafe Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan. You would have to go all the way back to September 2005 to find the last ODI that neither of these players took part in – coincidentally, also against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
So what does this new look Bangladesh entail? Well, they’ll be hoping recent form isn’t an accurate indicator. They’ve lost their last six completed ODIs, and 8 of their last 11 ODIs since the start of 2024. Though more promisingly, two of those wins were part of a series victory against Sri Lanka.
Since that series defeat though, Sri Lanka have been on a bit of a tear, particularly at home. They’ve beaten India, West Indies, New Zealand and Australia on home turf in the past year, with their only ODI series loss coming away to New Zealand.
And while Bangladesh are seeking to fill some big holes, Sri Lanka very well might be settling into a favoured setup. Their batting is now replete with ever more dependable performers, while their bench strength is becoming quite formidable.
Nowhere is this more exemplified than in the pace contingent with Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka included ahead of the likes of Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara and Matheesha Pathirana. Meanwhile a spin department headed by Wanidu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana is comfortably in world-class territory, and even deadlier in home conditions.
But Bangladesh have exciting talents of their own, even if overall depth is still lacking. Rishad Hossain was a key part of Bangladesh’s most recent win against Sri Lanka, while in Mehidy they have one of the premier allrounders in world cricket. Shanto, meanwhile, unburdened by captaincy will be eyeing to turn over a new leaf of his own.
So it very well could be a fresh start for this young Bangladesh outfit, and where better to start than by targeting a first-ever series win in Sri Lanka.
Maheesh Theekshana played just one out of a possible three ODIs against India last year, and then two out of three against West Indies. But since then he’s played in every home ODI he’s been available for, while even picking up seven wickets across two games in New Zealand. While Theekshana has for the most part been considered a T20 specialist, it seems the think tank is increasingly more attuned to the utility of his skill-set in ODIs as well. And even when he’s not picking up wickets, he’s creating the pressure for the bevy of spinners around him to profit.
Unlike Sri Lanka’s, Bangladesh’s spinners haven’t had all that great a time as of late, but in Rishad Hossain they have the kind of talent every team in world cricket is looking for – namely, a leg spinning all-rounder that can hit the ball far. But sadly for Bangladesh and Rishad, neither facet of his skillset has been coming off as of late. His last 10 games, internationally and in franchise cricket, has seen a high score of 13 and 11 wickets. But when Bangladesh last played Sri Lanka in the format, Rishad struck a devastating 48 off 18, with a wicket to go with it. If Bangladesh are to challenge a strong Sri Lankan outfit, Hossain will have to be on top of his game.
Sri Lanka’s XI is largely settled but there are a few areas wherein things might not be as nailed down. An opening partner for Pathum Nissanka is one of them, with Nishan Madushka preferred over Avishka Fernando in Sri Lanka’s last ODI. Eshan had a storming IPL and domestic season, which means it’ll likely be between Asitha and Madushanka for that final seamer spot.
Sri Lanka (probable): Nishan Madushka/Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana Eshan Malinga Asitha Fernando/Dilshan Madushanka
The visitors have to make at least two major changes to their middle-order with Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah gone from ODIs since their last match in this format. Shanto will likely move into the middle-order with Mohammad Naim and Litton Das set to get into the top-order.
Bangladesh (probable): Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das (wk), Mohammad Naim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana
[Cricnfo]
At least 14 members of the press were detained in Venezuela on Monday as they were covering the aftermath of the seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by US forces.
The union representing media workers in Venezuela said all but one of those detained were employed by foreign news organisations and were released later on Monday, with one reporter deported.
Foreign news media have long faced restrictions in Venezuela, with very few being granted visas to work in the country.
Their detention came as Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as the interim president and shortly after she said that she was willing to co-operate with the Trump administration, which has said it would “run” Venezuela.
The union said the media workers were detained by Venezuelan security forces at the National Assembly and its environs, and in the neighbourhood of Altamira – all in the capital, Caracas.
At least two of them were seized by agents working for Venezuela’s military counterintelligence agency, while others were detained by Venezuela’s intelligence service.
They said they had their equipment searched, their phones checked and their social media posts and messages read, the union statement added.
A Colombian and a Spanish reporter were also detained at Venezuela’s border with Colombia near Cúcuta.
The two reporters were held for hours incommunicado before being released back into Colombia, the statement said.
The union called the incidents “alarming” and called for the release of 23 media workers who remain in detention in the country.
(BBC)
South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung has called for a “new phase” in ties with China as he met its leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Monday.
Regional security and lifting Beijing’s unofficial ban on Korean pop culture is high on Lee’s agenda, as he continues his four-day trip in China. He is set to meet China’s Premier Li Qiang and the chairman of parliament, Zhao Leji on Tuesday.
It marks the first visit by a South Korean leader since 2019. Bilateral ties had soured under Lee’s predecessor, impeached ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol, who was very critical of China.
Xi, meanwhile, has appeared keen to shore up ties with South Korea amid a diplomatic row between China and Japan.
South Korea is a US security ally – like Japan – but also relies on China for trade. Experts say Lee is expected to keep walking a diplomatic tightrope between Beijing and Tokyo.
The visit marks the second time the two leaders have met since November when Xi visited South Korea for a regional economic summit.
On Monday Lee stated that the visit was “a crucial opportunity” for the “full-scale restoration of South Korea-China relations”, reported South Korean newspaper Chosun. “We want to usher in a new phase in the development of South Korea-China relations.”
Government officials and companies from both countries signed a series of cooperation agreements on technology, trade and environment.
Lee also took selfies with Xi, using a Xiaomi phone that the Chinese president had gifted him last year.
“The image quality is certainly good, right?” Lee posted on X along with the photos.
Xi noted that the “international situation is becoming more turbulent and complex”.
The meeting followed the US’s capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro over the weekend.
Xi urged Lee to “firmly stand on the right side of history and make correct strategic choices”, China’s official Xinhua news agency reported.
He also brought up the two countries’ shared history of resisting Japan militarism, saying that China and South Korea should now “work hand in hand to safeguard the outcomes of the victory of World War Two and uphold peace and stability in Northeast Asia”.
Xi’s eagerness to meet Lee signals the pressure he faces in finding a regional ally, Park Seung-chan, professor of China studies at Yongin University told the BBC.
“China may beat around the bush but its demand is clear: side with China and denounce Japan.”
During his four-day trip to China, Lee is expected to hold a memorial service in Shanghai for activists who fought for Korea’s independence from Japan.
But while South Korea is “still showing all its deference towards China”, it wants to “strengthen its relationships with both Japan and China”, Mr Park said.
Lee is reportedly planning to visit Japan later this month to meet Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Security on the Korean Peninsula has also been part of the discussions. Lee has sought to engage North Korea diplomatically, but there has been little progress so far. He needs Chinese cooperation in pressuring the North’s Kim Jong Un to give up his nuclear weapons. Beijing is one of Pyongyang’s biggest supporters, economically and diplomatically.
Lee vowed on Monday to work with China on “viable alternatives for peace on the Korean Peninsula”.
On Sunday Seoul’s military said Pyongyang fired ballistic missiles off its east coast. And on Monday the North’s state news agency said the country test-fired hypersonic missiles to assess deterrence capabilities following recent developments, in an apparent reference to the US’s seizure of Maduro.
It remains unclear how much Lee will be able to push China on North Korea. In September, Xi had pledged to strengthen Beijing’s “traditional friendship” with Pyongyang.
And Seoul and Beijing are not natural allies.
US troops have been stationed in South Korea for decades in case of an attack from the North, and last year the two sides agreed to cooperate on building nuclear-powered submarines. The announcement drew warnings from China.
Lee has also sought to put a stop to China’s build-up of maritime structures in waters between the two countries. Beijing says the structures are fish-farming equipment, but they have sparked security concerns in Seoul.
The two leaders agreed on Monday to continue “constructive” dialogue on the matter, South Korea’s presidential spokesperson said.
Another item high on Lee’s agenda is China’s unofficial restrictions on South Korean music and dramas that have been in place for a decade. K-pop and K-dramas are either unavailable or difficult to access on Chinese media platforms.
While China has never acknowledged a ban on Korean artists, it’s believed to be a protest against South Korea’s decision to deploy a US anti-missile system in 2016, which China sees as a threat to its military operations in the region.
China is a massive market for Korean entertainment, which is already a huge global success.
At a Korea-China business forum on Sunday, Lee encouraged deeper bilateral collaboration in beauty products, food and cultural content including movies and music.
A South Korean presidential spokesperson said on Monday that the two leaders agreed to discuss the gradual expansion of cultural exchanges – without specifying concrete commitments on K-dramas or K-pop.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson similarly told reporters on Tuesday that both sides have agreed to “carry out orderly, healthy, and beneficial cultural exchanges”.
Speaking before Korean residents in Beijing on Sunday, Lee said his visit would “serve as a new starting point to fill in the gaps in Korea-China relations, restore them to normal and upgrade them to a new level”.
The Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal forwarded by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to appoint Mrs. P. K. L. S. Panduwawala, the officer
in the special grade of Sri Lanka Surveyors’ Service currently serving as the Additional Surveyor General (Central) to the post of Surveyor General with effect from 02.02.2026.
Venezuelan security forces detain journalists as armed police patrol streets
Selfies and smiles: South Korea seeks ‘new phase’ in ties with China
M/s South Asian Technologies awarded contract to supply vehicle number plates
A new act for National Lotteries Board to be introduced
Motor Vehicles (Driving License Levy) Regulations No. 3 of 2022 to be amended
Mrs. P. K. L. S. Panduwawala appointed to the post of Surveyor General
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