Sports

No fitness, no IPL

Published

3 months ago

2026/03/29

Nuwan Thushara

Many would argue that had Sri Lanka gone into the recent World Cup with all their big guns fit and firing, they might have reached the semis. That’s the popular line doing the rounds. But if we are calling it as we see it, this campaign was heading for a collapse even before the first ball was bowled.

Reappointing Dasun Shanaka as captain was a gamble, lacked foresight and in the end created divisions within the team. The decision to bring back Pramodya Wickremasinghe as Chairman of Selectors didn’t inspire confidence either. It was a move that had trouble written all over it, the kind that can unsettle a dressing room before a ball is even delivered. It’s like appointing Mervyn Silva as Public Relations Minister. A bull in a China shop is less troublesome than these two southerners.

Of course, injuries played their part. Losing Matheesha Pathirana and Eshan Malinga robbed the attack of bite, but the biggest dent was the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga. A proven match-winner, Hasaranga is the sort who can turn a game on its head in the space of a couple of overs. Without him, Sri Lanka were always chasing the game.

What is more concerning is the recurring nature of Hasaranga’s injuries. Missing yet another global tournament due to a hamstring issue raises serious questions. Over the last two years, the pattern has been far from encouraging, and for a professional cricketer, that’s an area that needs urgent attention.

Clearly frustrated by the injury crisis that derailed the campaign, Sri Lanka Cricket have decided to take a firmer stance. Players seeking No Objection Certificates for the IPL will now have to clear fitness tests first. It’s a step in the right direction and one that had been coming for some time.

In the past, when the board tried to assert control, players pushed back, often using franchise connections to apply pressure. This time, however, SLC seem prepared to stand their ground and ensure that national duty is not treated as optional.

There has to be a sense of accountability. It does not sit well when key players miss a World Cup and then turn up fully fit for franchise cricket. That is a contradiction that undermines both the team and the system.

Nuwan Thushara’s situation, however, presents a slightly different picture. The slinging seamer, who was not part of the World Cup squad, has also struggled to meet fitness standards. SLC have inserted a clause allowing them to withhold NOCs for three months beyond the contract period, a move that shows the board have learned from past lapses.

That said, Thushara’s case deserves a degree of empathy. At 31, he is nearing the latter stages of his career and opportunities like the IPL do not come around often. While fitness standards must be upheld, there is also room for discretion, particularly in cases where the player was not part of the World Cup plans.

If players are now seeking leniency, it also reflects gaps in how fitness has been managed over time. Preparation at this level is a long-term investment, not something that can be patched up overnight.

by Rex Clemetine

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India v Pakistan: The noise the World Cup had been waiting for

Published

15 mins ago

2026/06/14

Priyan

Expect Edgbaston to be packed on Sunday (Cricbuzz)

Three buses lined up at the City Street Station to ferry a long queue of cricket enthusiasts for the opening game of the 2026 T20 World Cup, barely a few miles away from the Edgbaston Cricket Stadium. The queue looked long; the laziness to count the number of people notwithstanding, David Hilbert needn’t be bothered.

Welcoming them at the stadium was the unmissable sight of a strong, six-foot man holding a banner to call out racism; a cause he has been standing up against the Warwickshire County Cricket Club since 2022, when he alleges being manhandled and unfairly thrown out of the stadium by the security, and his complaints of the mistreatment have fallen on deaf ears since. He turns up with his non-violent protest outside the stadium every time there is an ‘important’ game, hoping to be heard.

Giving him company were two Gujarati cap sellers, born on either side of the India-Pakistan border. Both haven’t had much success selling their wares, but at least they had company. One of them was bargaining with the distributor that vuvuzelas won’t sell, the other was trying to hold up his stall against the repeated spells of wind that carried the caps flying to the other side of the road. They had turned up on the street outside the stadium sensing a business opportunity.

The one who got the extra earning opportunity for the day though, was totally unaware why it had come his way. Down Edgbaston Street, 25-year-old Ismail was manning the traffic at the crossroads. A self-confessed cricket tragic who moved from Lahore a year ago, Ismail was stationed to offer security at the junction but was absolutely clueless when a man inside a car at the signal rolled down his window and asked, ‘Is there a match going on?’ For all his love for cricket, Ismail couldn’t care enough; he was just excited at the prospect of earning GBP 160 for this one-day makeshift duty – higher than his usual pay.

For varying reasons, they had all turned up – known or unknown to them – on that street because a ‘big event’ was happening. So did 14,000-odd spectators to welcome the World Cup back home.

Clearly, there is an enormity to this Women’s World Cup, and unlike London, Birmingham isn’t quite decked up in preparation. Well past 9 PM, the skies were still blue and bright; everything visible clear as day. But it was hard to fathom that this was the sight of a global extravaganza aiming to become ‘a movement, not a moment’. Across a dull landscape, the World Cup posters springing a mix of purple, pink and red should have ideally popped out. Instead, they merged with the rest of the advertising hoardings – from McDonald’s McFrape to 7UP – all colouring themselves in similar shades, the World Cup banners don’t quite disrupt the eye. Nor did the stadium’s sound – or the lack of it – draw any attention. Even as Danni Wyatt was pummelling the Sri Lankan bowlers to a record century, there wasn’t a decibel of noise outside that could turn heads on a quiet street to make someone even wonder if a match was being played inside.

If the World Cup needed some noise, colour and disruption, a charged Sunday desi-fest – India vs Pakistan in Birmingham – is coming. For all practical purposes, this isn’t quite the cricketing rivalry that advertisers and broadcasters would queue up for. Yet, it’s hard to miss the frequency with which the two teams have ended up in the same group over the past few years.

Clearly, this is with a purpose. Even if not for cricketing reasons, this is the contest the organisers would hope will intensify the appeal for the sport among the locals, fairly crowded by the South Asian diaspora. It’s cruel to minimise the popularity of a world tournament down to the eyeballs drawn by one contest, but its power even sans the external hype is hard to overlook.

On paper, the two sides don’t quite measure up at the same level. Yet, Pakistan have given India more than a few moments of scare beyond the two victories they clinched at the World Cups. And they are quite capable of doing that again, especially if captain Fatima Sana is fully fit.

While both teams are coming into the tournament having picked a fair few losses in the last month, unlike India’s experiments to find the perfect combination, Pakistan are clear with their limitations and a simplified game plan: attack. Whether they will be able to seize the pressure of the day or if their best can win them the contest is another question altogether. But if they manage to do that, there should be enough to make the contest riveting, and as a result, loud enough to be heard. For more than just some caps to sell; for the tournament to get its due.

Birmingham hasn’t been a high scoring venue, with the run-rate hovering around 6.55 in women’s T20s over the past four years at the venue. However, Danni Wyatt’s performance in the opening game would provide free-stroking batters some optimism.

In the lead-up to the World Cup, India haven’t quite cracked their best combination. A trail of losses against South Africa and England have offered India a much-needed perspective towards their weaknesses. The trial with the injury-returned Yastika Bhatia has delivered mixed results so far, and moreover sucked away some power from the lower middle order.

India Probable XI: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil/Nandni Sharma, Shree Charani, Renuka Thakur

Fatima Sana suffered an injury to her right knee during practice. Her availability for the contest remains uncertain. Another senior player, Aliya Riaz, too wasn’t spotted at practice.

Pakistan Probable XI: Muneeba Ali, Gull Feroza, Ayesha Zafar, Saira Jabeen, Aliya Riaz/Iram Javed, Eyman Fatima, Rameen Shamim, Fatima Sana/Diana Baig, Tasmia Rubab, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal

(Cricbuzz)

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Vinicus Jr recues draw for Brazil against Morocco

Published

5 hours ago

2026/06/14

Priyan

[pic BBC]

Vinicius Jr spared Brazil the embarrassment of defeat in an opening World Cup match for the first since 1934 as his spectacular solo goal earned a draw for the five-time winners against Morocco at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

Brazil fell behind in the 21st minute when Ismael Saibari lifted the ball over the onrushing Alisson Becker from outside the area following a lapse in communication between the Liverpool goalkeeper and his defenders, Gabriel and Marquinhos.

It was the first time the African champions had scored against South American opposition at the World Cup, having failed to do so against Peru in 1970 and Brazil in 1998.

Morocco continued to dominate and, by the 30th minute, had registered 12 shots – the most Brazil have faced in a World Cup match since their encounter with Mexico in 2018.

But as Mohamed Ouahbi’s side failed to capitalise on their advantage, Brazil drew level 13 minutes before the break through Vinicius.

Making his 50th appearance for the Selecao, he collected a ball from Bruno Guimaraes inside the area, cut inside, and unleashed a fierce strike past Yassine Bounou.

Former West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta almost put Brazil ahead in first-half stoppage time, but his acrobatic effort was tipped behind for a corner.

With several members of Brazil’s triumphant 2002 squad watching on in New Jersey – including Ronaldo, Kaka and Roberto Carlos – Carlo Ancelotti’s side began to move through the gears after the break.

And although chances were at a premium for both sides, Raphinha came closest to finding an elusive second when he narrowly failed to connect with Guimaraes’ low-driven cross across the face of goal.

The draw means Morocco’s wait to win their opening game at a World Cup goes on, while Brazil’s remarkable 92‑year unbeaten first-match record remains intact.

On a night full of history for Brazil, this lethargic display is unlikely to live long in the memory.

Brazil’s last World Cup game on US soil was also a forgettable performance, the only final to finish 0-0 after 120 minutes before they defeated Italy on penalties in 1994.

Now, 32 years on from that game in Pasadena, the Selecao are led by a foreign manager at the tournament for the first time as they look to win the World Cup for only the second time since then.

But if Ancelotti’s remit is nothing less than delivering a sixth World Cup success, he will have been far from satisifed with what he saw at MetLife Stadium.

Brazil started sluggishly and looked unusually open, struggling to retain possession or match Morocco’s intensity in the sweltering New Jersey heat.

It resulted in an underwhelming display that, for long periods, looked set to end Brazil’s remarkable 92-year unbeaten record in opening matches of the World Cup.

That was until they were bailed out by the individual brilliance of Vinicius – a sight supporters of the national team have demanded more of since his senior debut in 2019.

It is unlikely to be the last moment of magic we see from the forward this summer.

If Brazil are to reach the final on 19 July, Ancelotti may have little choice but to rely heavily on the man who helped deliver Champions League success during their time together at Real Madrid.

Morocco face Scotland at Boston Stadium on 19 June (23:00 BST), while Brazil take on Haiti at Philadelphia Stadium on 20 June (01:30 BST)

[BBC Sports]

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Gill, Rahul seal India’s chase for 1-0 lead after Gurbaz century

Published

6 hours ago

2026/06/14

Priyan

Harsh Dubey celebrates after picking up his maiden ODI wicket [Cricinfo]

Debutants Harsh Dubey and Gurnoor Brar claimed three wickets each, while Shubman Gill slammed a fluent 66-ball 84 not out as India eased past Afghanistan in the rain-reduced opening ODI in Dharamsala, by seven wickets.

Scheduled to begin at 1.30pm local time, the match was delayed by more than four hours due to persistent drizzle and reduced to 25 overs a side. Once the weather cleared, Rahmanullah Gurbaz dazzled with a sublime 51-ball 102, the fastest century by an Afghanistan batter and his ninth in ODIs. But the rest of the batters failed to create much impact as Afghanistan folded for 194 in 24.5 overs. Arshdeep Singh and Nitish Kumar Reddy also picked up two wickets apiece.

The Indian batters did not break much of a sweat in the 195 chase. Rohit Sharma was run out for 16 but Gill held firm, recording his 18th ODI half-century, while also becoming the second-fastest batter to breach the 3000-run mark in ODIs. Ishan Kishan scored 34 off 22 while KL Rahul ended with an unbeaten 39 off 19 and hit the winning runs as India took 22.5 overs to close the chase and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The first innings revolved around Gurbaz. He had his moments – he should have been lbw on 14, but India failed to review, and also run out on 30 – but kept the Afghanistan innings ticking after India had the visitors in early trouble. Gurbaz waltzed down the track first ball of the shortened innings and missed, and then crashed Arshdeep for four and six to collect 11 off the first over.

Gurnoor cranked up the pace right away and was rewarded with just his fifth ball when Ibrahim Zadran spooned a leading edge to mid-off. Arshdeep then pinned Sediqullah Atal in front of the stumps before taking out Rahmat Shah who mistimed over square leg, with Dubey taking a smart catch running back.

At 26 for 3 inside five overs, Afghanistan were in danger of collapsing in a heap but Gurbaz arrested the slide. He dominated the 116-run fourth-wicket stand in 11 overs, scoring 82 in the partnerships with Hashmatullah Shahidi. He struck Prasidh Krishna for two fours in the seventh over and then took on Dubey, smashing him for a four and six before reaching his fifty off 25 balls by depositing him over deep midwicket.

A flicked-scoop off Prasidh helped Gurbaz race through the 60s before he took a special liking to Washington Sundar, thumping him for a four and two sixes in the 12th over. Shahidi, at the other end, did his job collecting the odd boundary and rotating the strike but the Afghanistan innings was all about Gurbaz. He reached 94 with a supreme six over long-off and got his century off 48 balls with a brace to deep midwicket in the 15th over. Going at 9.33 an over after 15, Afghanistan were looking at a score in excess of 220 but India came back brilliantly.

Reddy flattened Gurbaz’s middle stump in the 16th over, while Dubey claimed his maiden international wicket by nipping out Shahidi in the next. Azmatullah Omarzai hit Dubey for two sixes, but perished to the same bowler soon after. Gill took a one-handed stunner at slip, leaping to his left and grabbing a thick outside edge off AM Ghazanfar’s blade as Afghanistan slipped to 182 for 8 after 22 overs. Rashid Khan hit two fours before Gurnoor ended the Afghanistan innings.

India were 7 for 0 without a legal ball bowled as Omarzai began the innings with five wides, a no-ball and another wide. He then pinned Rohit on the right glove with a bouncer in a first over full of drama. Rohit needed the physio’s attention multiple times but he soon found his groove, punching debutant Ziaur Rahman past backward point and then pulling Omarzai for a six and four.

Gill opened his account with a sublime back-foot cover drive and then square drove Ghazanfar as India reached 40 for 0 after six overs. Afghanistan found a ray of hope when a misunderstanding between Rohit and Gill resulted in a run-out. Rohit ticked Ghazanfar to the left of midwicket and set off, with Gill, who found the bowler in his way, having his glove up. Rohit had, meanwhile, run halfway and failed to make it back despite a dive.

Kishan, playing his first ODI since October 2023, quickly found his groove. He added 70 off 43 balls with Gill to keep the India innings going. The two collected boundaries in almost every over, ensuring the required rate was always in check. They took on Mohammad Nabi with Kishan first hitting him for a four and six in the tenth over before Gill smoked him for a six and two fours in the 12th to bring up a 37-ball fifty.

Kishan was undone by a Rashid googly as he charged down the track and lost his off stump after missing the line. Shreyas Iyer looked rusty during his 12 off 15 balls but Rahul immediately injected momentum into the chase. He started with a ramp over deep third and with India needing 33 off 24, smashed Ziaur for 6, 4, 4 and then ended the 22nd over with an effortless six over deep extra cover.

Rahul and Gill added an unbroken 53 off 32 balls for the fourth wicket with Rahul hitting the winning runs off Mohammad Saleem. For Afghanistan, only Rashid and Ziaur managed a wicket each.

SCORES:

India 195 for 3 in 22.5 overs (Shubman Gill 84*, KL Rahul 39*, Ishan Kishan 34; Rashid Khan 1-37) beat Afghanistan 194 in 24.5 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 102, Hashmatullah Shahidi 27, Azmatullah Omarzai 26; Gurnoor Brar 3-27, Harsh Dubey 3-47, Arshdeep Singh 2-27, Nitish Kumar Reddy 2-31) by seven wickets

[Cricinfo]