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India need a win in Sydney to stay in contention for WTC final

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South Africa’s nail-biting two wicket win against Pakistan in Centurion has confirmed their place in June’s World Test Championship (WTC) final, while Australia’s win at the MCG makes them the front-runner to take the second spot, though India and Sri Lanka are still in contention. Here is a look at what each team in contention needs to do to qualify.

Australia

Percent: 61.46; matches remaining: India (1 home Test), SL (2 away)

If Australia win the Sydney Test against India, they are through to the WTC final regardless of results in Sri Lanka – if Australia were to win in Sydney but lose both Tests in their upcoming series in Sri Lanka, they would finish on 57.02 percentage points to India’s 50 and Sri Lanka’s 53.85.

A draw in Sydney will keep them ahead of India, but it would leave the door open for Sri Lanka to sneak through; if Australia were to draw in Sydney but lose both Tests in Sri Lanka, they would finish on 53.51, while Sri Lanka would climb up to 53.85.

If Australia were to lose in Sydney, they would need one win in Sri Lanka to qualify. A 1-1 verdict in Sri Lanka after losing in Sydney would leave Australia on 57.02 to India’s 55.26. If Australia draw both Tests in Sri Lanka after losing in Sydney, India and Australia will be level on 55.26, but India will qualify on the basis of having won more series in this WTC cycle.

India

Percent: 52.78; matches remaining: Australia (1 away)

India need to win in Sydney to stay in contention for the WTC final. A win would take India to 55.26, which would be enough for them to finish second if Australia were to achieve no more than two draws in Sri Lanka. As mentioned above, if Australia draw both Tests, they will finish level with India on percentage, but India will qualify with more series wins in this cycle. If Australia lose 1-0, they will drop to 53.51, and Sri Lanka will finish with 48.72 (with a 1-0 win).

However, if India only manage a draw, they will drop to 51.75 and will be out of the WTC final race. That is because even if Australia were to lose both Tests in Sri Lanka after drawing in Sydney, they would finish on 53.51, while Sri Lanka would climb up to 53.85.

Sri Lanka

Percent: 45.45; matches remaining: Australia (2 home)

The only way Sri Lanka can qualify is if the Sydney Test ends in a draw and they then beat Australia 2-0. In that case, Sri Lanka, on 53.85, would finish above Australia (53.51) and India (51.75).

If India win in Sydney, they will knock Sri Lanka out. Australia, also, will certainly finish ahead of Sri Lanka if they go to 3-1 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

[Cricinfo]



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Advisory for strong winds and rough seas for the sea areas extending from Kankasanthurai to Chilaw via Mannar and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota

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Advisory for Strong Winds and Rough Seas
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 04.30 p.m. 28 May 2026 For the period from 04.30 p.m. 28 May 2026 to 04.30 p.m. 29 May 2026.

Please be prepared as the sea areas extending from Kankasanthurai to Chilaw via Mannar and from Galle to Pottuvil via Hambantota will be rough at times with strong gusty winds up to (60-65) kmph.

The naval and fishing communities who are engaged in fishing and naval activities in the above sea areas are requested to be vigilant in this regard

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West Indies to host Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan in 2026 home season

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West Indies are currently placed last after seven losses in eight games in the ongoing 2025-27 cycle of the WTC [Cricinfo]

The West Indies men’s side will play home series against Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Pakistan during the 2026 season, with the tours of Sri Lanka and Pakistan including Test matches, Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced on Thursday.

Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, will host the white-ball matches against Sri Lanka between June 3 and 14, with the Test matches, which will start on June 25 and July 3, to be played at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium at North Sound in Antigua.

The New Zealand tour will only feature five ODIs, to be played at Guyana’s National Stadium (first three) and Kensington Oval in Barbados (last two) between July 11 and 21.

Pakistan will then visit the Caribbean for two Tests, to be played from July 25 to 29 and August 2 to 6, both in Trinidad and Tobago, but at different venues: the first at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, which will be the ground’s inaugural Test, and the second at Queen’s Park Oval.

The Test matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan will be part of the ICC World Tet Championship. where West Indies are currently placed last (ninth) after seven losses in eight games in the ongoing 2025-27 cycle.

Guyana was originally due to host all five ODIs against New Zealand, but “logistical challenges” forced a change.

“Cricket West Indies engaged in discussions with the government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana regarding logistical challenges associated with hosting the five ODIs. Subsequently, the governments of Guyana and Barbados proposed a collaborative arrangement to share the matches and associated operational costs between the two territories,” CWI chief executive Chris Dehring said in a statement.

“Following consultation with New Zealand Cricket, Cricket West Indies approved the arrangement as part of its continued commitment to delivering a successful and memorable series for players, fans, and the wider Caribbean community.”

Sri Lanka tour

June 3 – 1st ODI at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 6 – 2nd ODI at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 9 – 3rd ODI at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 11 – 1st T20I at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 13 – 2nd T20I at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 14 – 3rd T20I at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 25-29 – 1st Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua & Barbuda
July 3-7 – 2nd Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua & Barbuda

New Zealand tour

July 11 – 1st ODI at Guyana National Stadium, Guyana
July 13 – 2nd ODI at Guyana National Stadium, Guyana
July 16 – 3rd ODI at Guyana National Stadium, Guyana
July 19 – 4th ODI at Kensington Oval, Barbados
July 21 – 5th ODI at Kensington Oval, Barbados

Pakistan tour

July 25-29 – 1st Test at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago
August 2-6 – 2nd Test at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago
[Cricinfo]
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Iran says it targeted American base after fresh US strikes

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The strikes come amid a fragile ceasefire and protracted negotiations to end the war, which began with the US and Israel striking Iran on 28 Feb

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it has targeted an American air base in the region, after fresh US strikes on southern Iran.

The IRGC did not say where the base was, but Kuwait, which hosts a US base, said it had intercepted “hostile missile and drone threats”, without specifying where they were coming from.

Earlier the US military said it had shot down Iranian drones over the Strait of Hormuz and struck a military site in Bandar Abbas, a strategic port city.

The renewed hostilities threaten a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran.

It is the second time in three days that the US has attacked targets in Iran – saying that the strikes were conducted in self defence.

The site in Bandar Abbas was struck as it was about to launch a fifth drone, US Central Command (Centcom) said. Iranian media reported that explosions were heard to the east of the city.

Centcom described its actions as “measured, purely defensive, and intended to maintain the ceasefire”.

It also said its forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones “that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz”.

The IRGC said it had targeted an American air base “that served as the source of the attack” on Bandar Abbas, according to state broadcaster IRIB.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai condemned the US strikes and said they constituted a violation of the ceasefire.

He added that the Islamic republic would “take all necessary measures to defend its national sovereignty”, according to quotes cited by IRIB.

A BBC map of the Strait of Hormuz region, showing the narrow strait between The Gulf to the west and the Gulf of Oman to the east. The north of the strait is the coast of Iran and the United Arab Emirates and Oman are to the south. Bandar Abbas is highlighted in red on the Iranian coast at the narrowest point of the strait. The map also labels Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE on The Gulf coast. A small inset map shows the location of the region within the Middle East and between Africa and Asia.

Earlier this week, the US confirmed a previous round of “self-defence” strikes on southern Iran on Monday in which they targeted Iranian missile sites and boats attempting to lay mines in the Strait, where thousands of commercial tanker ships are stranded as a result of the conflict.

Centcom said those strikes were designed “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces”.

The US also imposed sanctions on the “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” – the Iranian body tasked with collecting payments from ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.

Any ships that pay the authority could also be “exposed to the risk of sanctions”, the US Treasury Department said in a statement.

One-fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas and oil normally pass through the shipping channel, and its closure has impacted global fuel trade.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Monday that Tehran was collecting fees for “navigational services” and it would continue to manage traffic through the waterway.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described it as the “Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade” and “proof” Iran is “desperate for cash”.

The IRGC also said on Tuesday that it had downed a US drone and fired at a fighter jet and another drone that entered Iranian airspace, but did not specify when.

[BBC]

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