Will the Women’s T20 Asia Cup  semi-final against Sri Lanka  be a full-circle moment for Pakistan ?

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in the semi final 9f the 2024 edition  to qualify for their first Asia Cup final since 2008. Now Pakistan enter this contest having not been at an Asia Cup final since 2016. Moreover, the two teams played a bilateral series only last month. So there is enough familiarity.

Sri Lanka are unbeaten in this tournament, notching up easy wins over UAE and Indonesia before being pushed hard by Bangladesh.Chamari Athapaththu has topped the  wickets tally, this time, her seven-for against Indonesia providing a reminder of what she can do in spin-friendly conditions at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Her pairing with Imesha Dulani at the top of the batting order has given Sri Lanka a close-to-ideal combination. Nilakshika Silva’s half-century from a tricky spot against Indonesia, and Harshitha Samarawickrama’s composure in a tight chase against Bangladesh have instilled confidence in their batting order.

Pakistan, on the other hand, are slightly short on batting confidence. They posted 119/9 against Thailand and were bowled out for 55 against India. It was only thanks to their bowlers that they could brush Tailand aside. Pakistan also lost the three-match bilateral series against Sri Lanka last month, though they did not have Fatima Sana’s services then.

Shawaal Zulfiqar’s presence at the top allows them to start at a higher gear, and Muneeba Ali’s experience only adds to the heft. Both are yet to fire together in this tournament, and Pakistan would hope it comes in the semi-final in order to end their finals drought.

A Pakistan Under-19 cricket team suddenly became the centre of focus when it was mistaken for a group of asylum seekers in Portsmouth. A group of protesters gathered outside the Marriott Hotel in Portsmouth after reports that asylum seekers were staying there. The situation had to be later diffused when it was ascertained that the hotel was hosting the Pakistan Under-19 team.

According to the Guardian, the situation became tense when a crowd gathered outside the Marriott hotel after reports that about 40 men who did not seem to be English arrived at the hotel. George Madgwick, a Reform councillor, called the hotel to mediate between the Pakistan Under-19 staff and the assembled crowd, following which the crowd dispersed.

“I spoke to the coach of the team, who was very understanding,” Madgwick told the Guardian. “I went out to the protesters and told them, ‘You’ve got it wrong guys, it’s a cricket club.’ They left within a couple of minutes. It was a massively unfortunate incident.

“From the perspective of the people of Portsmouth who are already on high alert, this was a coach from the same company which was turning up with about 40 foreign men.”

The ECB has been in touch with the Pakistan management following the incident and is reviewing security arrangements.

The Pakistan Under-19 team played a four-day game against England Under-19 in Arundel from September 2 to 5, which they lost by ten runs. The two teams faced off in a Youth ODI on September 9, with Pakistan winning by 177 runs. Pakistan’s senior men’s team are also playing the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston.

[Cricinfo]

by Rex Clementine

Sri Lanka’s Chairman of Selectors Kapila Wijegunawardene held his first media briefing yesterday since assuming office four months ago, a period in which several decisions have left the cricketing fraternity scratching their heads.

To his credit, the Chief Selector admitted that picking Lahiru Kumara for the tour of the Caribbean without first proving his fitness had been a mistake. It proved a costly one too, with the fast bowler breaking down after sending down just one over.

The former medium pacer was considerably more guarded when confronted with other contentious issues, including Dhananjaya de Silva’s defensive captaincy and the decision to recall Niroshan Dickwella after more than three years in the wilderness.

“We learned a tough lesson after what happened in the Caribbean with Lahiru Kumara and now we have made it mandatory for players to prove their fitness in domestic cricket when they come back from injuries,” Wijegunawardene told reporters.

That perhaps summed up the philosophy of this selection panel. Having burned their fingers once, caution appears to be the watchword. There seems little appetite for bold calls – the sort Duleep Mendis made when he gave Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana licence to tear into attacks during the field restrictions, or Sidath Wettimuny when he entrusted the vice-captaincy to a 22-year-old Mahela Jayawardene.

Ironically, as Wijegunawardene addressed the media, NCC were taking on Moors in a domestic T20 quarter-final right in front of his eyes at the SSC. One of those making an impression was seam bowling all-rounder Milan Rathnayake, who dismissed Dickwella for a second ball duck.

Wijegunawardene was duly asked why Milan had not been considered for the forthcoming tour of England.

Until now, the impression had been that the selectors were investing in Milan, giving the all-rounder sufficient international exposure with an eye on next year’s World Cup in South Africa. Suddenly, however, it appears to be back to square one, with Wijegunawardene indicating that the selectors have turned again to Dasun Shanaka for the all-rounder’s slot.

Shanaka has not played an ODI for more than two and a half years and has earned his recall largely on the strength of his T20 form. Yet he has repeatedly struggled to convince in the 50 over format, particularly if the selectors view him primarily as a batting all rounder.

This is where the selectors appear to have failed to do their homework. A proper analysis of Shanaka’s record would tell them that his batting has seldom been reliable enough in ODI cricket. The numbers tell that story quite clearly.

What the numbers will not tell you is that Dasun has instigated more bloodless coups than General Zia-ul-Haq and General Pervez Musharraf put together.