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MLC 2025: A clash of contrasts as MI New York and Washington Freedom eye second title
The reactions of captain Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard summed up MI New York’s path to the MLC 2025 final after they had been teetering on the brink, having lost six of their first seven games. Then they suddenly made the playoffs and peaked there, emulating their parent franchise Mumbai Indians in the IPL, knocking out San Francisco Unicorns and Texas Super Kings to set up a final clash with Washington Freedom, who have been the form team throughout the tournament, with eight wins in ten league games.
It’s a clash of contrasts in more ways than one. While MINY have relied on T20 superstars like Pooran, Pollard, Trent Boult and Quinton de Kock, Freedom have found success with less experienced names after their own big players – Steven Smith, Travis Head and Marco Jansen – were unavailable for their title defence.
Freedom also lost New Zealand quick Ben Sears to injury and his replacement Matthew Forde to the Global Super League (GSL) in Guyana along the way, but they found new heroes in allrounders Mitch Owen and Jack Edwards. Left-arm seamer Saurabh Netravalkar has had another productive out-of-office stint.
Lockie Ferguson has had his load managed upon his return from injury, but Ian Holland has stepped up with vital breakthroughs. After a crushing defeat to Unicorns – their margin of 123 runs win, the biggest in the MLC – in their season-opener, Freedom have bounced back spectacularly under the leadership of Ricky Ponting and Glenn Maxwell.
While Pooran and Pollard have made the headlines for MINY’s late dash, the team has also had contributions from the youngsters. Tristan Luus, who turned 20 last month, knocked Owen over with a 140kph dart on his MLC debut and went onto take out Faf du Plessis in Qualifier 2. Twenty-two-year-old Rushil Ugarkar, who was with MI at the IPL as a support player, has also thrived in MINY’s attack in this MLC.
MINY’s attack was severely depleted by the absence of Rashid Khan, Azmatullah Omarzai and Naveen-ul-Haq, but they have dug deep for a tilt at another title.
So, who will win their second MLC title on Sunday: MINY or Freedom?
Mitch Owen has been among the most sought-after T20 players around the world after his 39-ball century in the BBL final earlier this year in January. He has since made forays into the PSL, IPL and more recently at the MLC, where he has been utterly dominant with both bat and ball. Apart from hitting 313 runs in ten innings at a strike rate over 195, he has bagged 14 wickets at an economy of 8.96. Beware of Mitch, MINY.
Monak Patel hasn’t been as destructive as Owen at the top, but his stable presence hasn’t gone unnoticed. Patel currently has 450 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 143.31 and is 19 runs away from surpassing du Plessis as the top run-getter this season. There can’t be a better advertisement for the MLC than an USA batter topping the run charts.
Ferguson is being managed carefully by Freedom and New Zealand Cricket – he has also been rested for the upcoming T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe – but is likely to play the MLC final on Sunday.
Washington Freedom (probable): Mitch Owen, Rachin Ravindra, Andries Gous (wk), Glenn Maxwell (capt), Glenn Phillips, Mukhtar Ahmed, Obus Pienaar, Jack Edwards, Lockie Ferguson, Ian Holland, Saurabh Netravalkar
There’s no reason for MINY to make any changes unless there are any injury concerns.
MI New York (probable): Quinton de Kock (wk), Monank Patel, Michael Bracewell, Nicholas Pooran (capt), Kieron Pollard, Kunwarjeet Singh, Tarjinder Singh, Tristan Luus, Trent Boult, Nosthush Kenjige, Rushil Ugarkar
[Cricinfo]
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Heat Index likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North-western, Northern and North- central provinces and in Monaragala district
Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 26 March 2026, valid for 27 March 2026.
Thw Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North-western, Northern and North-
central provinces and in Monaragala district.
The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum
temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.
Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.
ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.
Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491
Israel says it has killed the Iranian navy chief overseeing what is a near-total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Alireza Tangsiri, head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) navy, was “directly responsible for the terrorist act of bombing and blocking the Strait of Hormuz”, and has been “blown up”, according to Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz.
He added that a number of other “senior Navy command officials” have also been killed. Iran has not yet commented.
Since the start of the war on 28 February, Israel has assassinated several top Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and security chief Ali Larijani.
Effectively blockading the Strait of Hormuz – the thin waterway between Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman, through which around 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes – has been a key pillar of Iran’s strategy in the war.
Oil prices have consequently shot up, placing a direct price of the war on consumers in not only the US and Israel but across the world.
In recent weeks, an X account attributed to Tangsiri and cited by Iranian media has posted frequently about the Hormuz blockade, writing that “no vessel associated with the aggressors against Iran has the right to pass through”.
Tangsiri was appointed as the commander of the Navy in 2018, having previously served as deputy commander since 2010. In 2019, he was sanctioned by the US Treasury along with other IRGC commanders after Iran shot down a US surveillance drone near the strait.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Tangsiri as an individual with “a great deal of blood on his hands” and said his assassination was “yet another example of the co-operation between us and our friend, the United States, toward the common goal of achieving the objectives of the war”.
US Central Command said in a statement Tangsiri’s death “makes the region safer” and that the IRGC’s navy “is on an irreversible decline”. It also called on serving members of the IRGC to abandon their posts and return home “to avoid further risk of unnecessary injury or death”.
Israel’s military said in a statement posted on X that the head of the IRGC Navy’s intelligence directorate, Behnam Rezaei, was also “eliminated”.
(BBC)
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A strong Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system equips individuals with practical, relevant, and future-oriented skills helping to innovate responsibly towards a greener and sustainable future – PM
The Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated as the Chief Guest in the international conference on ’Transforming TVET Systems for climate resilience and green jobs’ organized by Colombo Plan Staff College, Philippines together with the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Sri Lanka on 24 th of March at Courtyard by Marriott Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The Conference serves as the flagship event of the five-day Regional Programme on “Transforming TVET for a Digital, Green, and Inclusive Economy” (23-27 March 2026), which continues throughout the week, bringing together representatives from CPSC member countries including Bhutan, Fiji, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, fostering high-level dialogue and knowledge sharing on climate-resilient and green skills development.
The Conference features technical and plenary sessions on climate-responsive TVET systems, green skills development, national policy frameworks, and emerging technologies shaping industry transformation.
Addressing at the event, the Prime Minister emphasized the role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) that equips individuals with practical, relevant, and future-oriented skills in addressing climate change and shaping a sustainable future.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed that this transformation remains a national priority for Sri Lanka. She stressed that education must go beyond knowledge dissemination to empower individuals with opportunities, dignity, and the capacity to contribute meaningfully to society.
She further emphasized the need to integrate environmental sustainability into education and training systems by embedding green skills in curricula, investing in modern training facilities, promoting innovation, and fostering collaboration between training institutions and emerging green industries.
Highlighting the importance of ensuring equity the Prime Minister further stated, that opportunities arising from the green transition must be accessible to all, including youth, young women, people with special needs, and marginalized communities.
Reaffirming Sri Lanka’s commitment to working closely with regional and international partnerships, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of transforming them to actual benefits and partnerships.
The occasion was attended by the Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education Nalaka Kaluwewa, Additional Secretary (Vocational Training) Ms. Samanthi Senanayake Director General Colombo Plan Staff College Prof. Dr. Suresh K. Dhameja , TVET administrators, institutional leaders, policymakers, instructors, industry representatives, and international delegates from across the region and seniors officials and officials from Ministries.
(Prime Minister’s Media division)
Showers may occur at a few places in the Sabaragamuwa province and in Galle, Matara, Kalutara and Nuwara-Eliya districts in the evening
Energy Minister indicted on corruption charges ahead of no-faith motion against him
Over 1000 complaints of misuse of QR quotas
Fuel bowser operators demand 25% hike in haulage charges
Charge sheet issued against former NIE Director for contempt of court
Sallay sent back to CID after being discharged from National Hospital
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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