Sports

Aussies arrive for six-week all-format cricket tour

Published

4 years ago

2022/06/2

By Rex Clementine

The Australian cricket team arrived in Colombo yesterday evening for a six week long tour of Sri Lanka where they will be involved in Test, ODI and T-20 series. There were some doubts about the tour, following civil unrest and economic crisis in Sri Lanka but Cricket Australia agreed to make the tour by sending a full team.

The arrival of the Australian side is a big boost for SLC as the nation is set to host the Asia Cup as well along with Pakistan’s tour of the island. Observers said that it will be a shot in the arm for tourism at a time there are desperate attempts to revive tourism due to the severe shortage of foreign exchange.

The T-20 World Champions are carrying a large contingent on tour and that resulted in the team arriving at Katunayake in two batches as there weren’t sufficient business class seats for the entire team. Australia ‘A’ will also tour the island simultaneously and it’s an excellent move by the tourists as it helps them to draft in players to the senior side by the time they are set to play Test matches later this month.

Sri Lanka whitewashed Australia 3-0 the last time they were involved in a Test series here. But that was when Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera were still part of the side and now with both veterans gone, the home side will be tested.

However, exciting times are ahead in white ball cricket with Sri Lanka slowly building up a formidable unit. The bowling unit will be spearheaded by Dushmantha Chameera and comprises Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando and Matheesha Pathirana.

Pathirana is yet to make his international debut but he’s a superb talent and has already played in the IPL representing Chennai Super Kings. He came in for high praise from CSK captain M.S. Dhoni who called him an excellent death bowler.

Sri Lanka, however, will miss the services of Avishka Fernando and Kusal Janith Perera who are not fit.

Nuwanindu Fernando also gets into the side following an excellent tour of England with the Sri Lanka Development Squad that ended early this month.

The tour gets underway with a T-20 International at RPS next Tuesday (7th June). After back to back games at RPS, the teams will travel to Pallekele for the third T-20.

The five match ODI series gets underway at Pallekele and will shift to Colombo for the last three games.

Both Test matches will be played in Galle with the first Test getting underway on 29th June.

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Establishment of the National Higher Performance Centre

Published

5 hours ago

2026/10/20

Priyan

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports to establish the proposed National Higher Performance Centre for atletes.

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Shafali receives demerit point for breaching Level 1 of ICC code of conduct

Published

9 hours ago

2026/10/20

Priyan

File photo: It was Shafali's first offence in a 24-month period (Cricinfo)

India opener Shafali Verma has received an official reprimand and a demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the second T20I against Zimbabwe on Sunday.

Shafali, an ICC release said, breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.”

It was Shafali’s first offence in a 24-month period.

The incident occurred in the 12th over of Zimbabwe’s innings when Shafali threw the ball into the ground in frustration after dropping a chance at mid-off offered by Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano off Sree Charani.

Shafali admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee GS Lakshmi, which meant there was no need for a formal hearing.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50% of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.

India currently lead the three-match series 2-0 with the third game to be played on Tuesday evening. The T20Is will be followed by three ODIs in Vadodara from October 23.

(Cricinfo)

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Molineux, Dunkley enter WPL 2027 auction with top base price of INR 50 lakh

Published

20 hours ago

2026/10/20

Priyan

Sophie Molineux has previously played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the WPL [BCCI]

A total of 146 players will be competing for 27 available slots in the WPL 2027 mini auction on October 28 in Kochi. Of these, England batter Sophia Dunkley and Australia captain Sophie Molineux are the only two players who have listed themselves at the maximum base price of INR 50 lakh.

The auction pool has 119 Indian players, including 22 capped and 97 uncapped players, with 20 slots available for Indian players. The overseas pool has 27 players – 14 capped and 13 uncapped – including six from Associate teams, with seven slots available.

G Kamalini (released by Mumbai Indians), Kiran Navigre (released by U P Warriorz), Heather Graham and Jess Jonassen have registered at the second-highest base price of INR 40 lakh, while a total of 30 players have registered at INR 30 lakh.

Among the notable absentees are West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin, who was released by UPW, and Australia legspinner Alana King, who was released by Delhi Capitals. Lizelle Lee, who was DC’s highest run-scorer last season, has also not listed herself after being released by the franchise.

What the teams look like going into the auction

Only two English players – Dunkley and Kira Chathli (INR 10 lakh) – have registered for the auction, with several others, including Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Alice Capsey, Dani Gibson, Lauren Filer and Linsey Smith opting to skip the WPL next year.

Cricinfo has learned that England are likely to play three T20Is in Sri Lanka in early February, which will clash with the final week of the WPL. While the ECB is likely to allow players to stay in India to complete the tournament, most players have instead chosen to prioritise their international commitments ahead of the Champions Trophy later that month.

The relatively low salaries on offer at the WPL are also understood to be a factor in many English players deciding not to register, with most internationals earning significantly more to play in the Hundred (up to £190,000 last year) than the highest permitted base price in the WPL of INR 50 lakh (£40,000 approx).

Molineux was part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru [RCB] title-winning squad in 2024, and had bagged 12 wickets in ten games at an economy rate of 7.31. She was retained by RCB for the 2025 season but a knee injury ruled her out of the season. Dunkley, meanwhile, played for Gujarat Giants [GT] in 2023 before opting not to register for the 2024 season. She went unsold in the 2025 auction.

Among the premier internationals who have listed themselves for INR 30 lakh are Australia allrounder Grace Harris (released by RCB), Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, South Africa left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba and South Africa allrounder Chloe Tryon.

UPW, who released nine players, will go into the auction with the biggest purse of INR 3.75 crore.

[Cricinfo]