While speculation is rife about the sanctions the ICC could potentially levy on the PCB for the Pakistan government’s decision to boycott the T20 World Cup group match against India on February 15, the ICC is yet to decide if and when a Board meeting should be convened to discuss the issue.

Any discussions on sanctions normally take place at the ICC Board comprising the 12 Full Member boards and three representatives of the Associates along with the ICC chair. However, the ICC has not yet alerted the Board on any emergency meeting despite PCB indicating it is unlikely to respond officially in writing to the ICC on the boycott as well as the reason behind the government’s decision.

(Cricinfo)

Eshan Malinga will miss Sri Lanka’s  third T20I’s aginst England on Tuesday with a dislocated shoulder, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced. ESPNcricinfo also understands that the 24-year-old quick had been named in Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad – which  is yet to be publicly announced by SLC – but now that is also in jeopardy following the freak injury in Sunday’s T20I defeat to England in Pallekele.

The incident occurred in the eighth over of England’s chase as Malinga bowled the first ball following resumption of play after a lengthy rain interval. Upon delivery release Malinga seemingly tweaked his left (non-bowling) shoulder, and clutched it falling to the floor mid followthrough. The delivery itself was wayward, arriving above waist height and given as a no-ball.

“He will return to Colombo today, where he will undergo an MRI scan to assess the extent of the injury and determine the next course of action,” stated an SLC media release.

It’s a cruel blow for Malinga, who had shot up Sri Lanka’s seam-bowling pecking order following an impressive debut IPL stint in 2025. He had picked up eight wickets in his eight T20Is since debuting in November with a strike rate of 17.1.

No replacement was announced in the squad, and Pramod  Madushan is the only other seamer available. He had been touted as a backup to Dushmantha Chameera ahead of the series, and will now likely slot in for Malinga.

With SLC delaying the announcement of their World Cup squad, it’s unclear if Malinga will retain his spot or not in the 15. Any change to the squad post the January 31 squad announcement deadline would also require ICC’s approval.

If they were to make a change however, Sri Lanka are spoilt for choice in the fast-bowling department. The two frontrunners are seemingly Madushan and Nuwan Thushara. Madushan will likely get to stake his claim in the third T20I, while Thushara has been key contributor to Sri Lanka’s T20I exploits over the past year. The likes of Asitha Fernando, Binura Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka are also in contention, with the latter two the only left-armers.

(Cricinfo)

In their last game before the T20 World Cup title defence, India flaunted the true range and abilities of their batting might. They rocked up to the halfway stage in Thiruvananthapuram at 102/2 and yet what followed in the second half was the real mayhem. Sixes were hit, records were broken, a pulsating century was reached, and India had 271/5 in 20 overs – their third highest T20I total. Along the way, India matched their best tally of sixes in a T20I – 23 of them, on the most deflating night of the series for a very self-aware New Zealand bowling attack, who, per Mitchell Santner, have known the near-limitlessness of this Indian line-up.

‎In a series where the final scoreline matters less than fine-tuning before a big event, India checked a few crucial boxes. On Saturday evening, Suryakumar Yadav decided to bat first to account for the prospect of losing the toss during the World Cup. He marked the game with his third half-century of the series, finding and embracing the runs that have long eluded him in this format.

‎Before he could throw his bat around in the company of Ishan Kishan, the expectant crowd watched Sanju Samson suffer another failure – falling for a run-a-ball six to New Zealand’s fit-again quick Lockie Ferguson. The pacer stopped Abhishek Sharma in his tracks too, after the opener had typically smashed four fours and two sixes in quick time. Abhishek was sent packing for a 16-ball 30 but two early wickets didn’t change the tune of India’s heavy-metal batting.

‎Ishan Kishan then proceeded to present his best possible case to be a starter at the World Cup exactly a week from now, as he smashed a 41-ball century, full of adrenaline, risk and sixes. In perhaps a sign of things to come, he was also handed the keeping gloves during New Zealand’s chase, even as Samson was listed as the designated wicketkeeper in the team sheet.

‎India had 54/2 in 6 overs, a slow-go by their recent incredible standards. New Zealand looked to lock them down further with spin through the middle but barring one over from Mitchell Santner worth five runs, the ball continued to fly in all directions.

‎Ish Sodhi was first at the receiving end, and Santner himself came under attack in the 10th over, where Suryakumar and Kishan collected 20 runs to take India past 100. Then came a five-over period, accentuated by a 29-run 12th over from Sodhi where India completely got away from New Zealand’s flailing grasp. Kishan started the over at 47 (27), went 4, 4, 4, 6, 4, 6 and finished it at 75 (33). Like in Raipur, Kishan chose not to slow down even after hitting such a high, as he brought up the 100-run stand with his captain with a six in the next over.

‎When the strike turned over, Suryakumar ensured it didn’t lead to any respite for the bowlers. He carted Jacob Duffy for three successive sixes to reach his 26-ball half-century. Santner had him stumped in the 15th over, but Hardik Pandya walked out having already read the memo for the mayhem. From the 15th to the final over, the big-hitting all-rounder faced 17 balls and took 42 runs off it, with four sixes. Kishan rose to a new pedestal this series – smashing two sixes off Santner to reach a 41-ball century in a 25-run 17th over. 10, 14 and 21 runs came in the last three overs – totalling up to 169 off the last 60.

‎New Zealand had a mountain of runs in front of them, but Finn Allen stepped up in full preparation to attempt this hike. He returned to the side with a 22-ball half-century inside the PowerPlay, with scintillating strokeplay that involving flat-batting Jasprit Bumrah for a six. He also went 4, 4, 6, 4, 4 against Arshdeep Singh, as his knock pushed New Zealand to 79/1 in 6 overs – the best PowerPlay total by any team against India. He kept at it even after the field restrictions relaxed, welcoming Axar Patel with a six in the seventh over and smashing one off Varun CV too. In the ninth over though, he found the long-on fielder with another big hit – against Axar, to depart for a 38-ball 80, a knock laced with eight fours and six sixes. New Zealand still went to the mid-point of their chase at 131/2 – well ahead of what India had at that stage.

‎But being ahead was only one half of the story. Getting anywhere close to India’s total needed New Zealand to sustain the carnage, and even better it, and that’s where they fell away. Axar dismissed Glenn Phillips in the 11th over and Arshdeep returned after going for 40 in his first two overs, to concede just one run in his third while dismissing Rachin Ravindra and Mitchell Santner.

‎Daryl Mitchell and Bevon Jacobs re-kindled New Zealand’s hopes briefly by going after Bumrah – 4 6 6 1 4 1 in a 22-run over. But Varun came as the next disruptor, cleaning up Jacobs in the following over. Arshdeep then bowled another double-wicket over – taking out Kyle Jamieson and Mitchell, to complete a five-wicket haul. Axar arrived for a slice of the fun against New Zealand’s tail, and cleaned up Ferguson.

‎Jacob Duffy and Ish Sodhi swung for the fences, even against Bumrah who finished with his most expensive T20 figures of 0/58. Rinku Singh bowled the final over and ended the 10th-wicket stand with the wicket of Sodhi to wrap up a 46-run victory.

‎‎Brief Scores:

‎India 271/5 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 103, Suryakumar Yadav 63, Hardik Pandya 42; Lockie Ferguson 2-41)

‎New Zealand 225 in 19.4 overs (Finn Allen 80, Ish Sodni 33; Arshdeep Singh 5-51, Axar Patel 3-33)

(cricbuzz)