Sports

Rivals promise blockbuster action as Proteas aim to impress

Published

2 years ago

2024/06/1

Group D preview:

South Africa and Sri Lanka are the two highest ranked teams in the group, but there is not much between all five sides.Former ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champions Sri Lanka find themselves in Group D alongside South Africa, Bangladesh, Netherlands and Nepal for the upcoming tournament.

This group promises thrilling matches with rivals Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, South Africa and Netherlands pitted against one another.While Nepal gears up for their second appearance in the marquee event, the group boasts no clear cut favourite with history bearing witness that each team carries potential to beat the other.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh enter the T20 World Cup with a bit of uncertainty as they continue to look for their strongest XI. Experienced opener Litton Das has been out of form of late with an average of 13.16 this year in six matches. Although teammate Tawhid Hridoy is confident that Das will make a strong comeback in the tournament.

Another concern is the injury to vice-captain Taskin Ahmed and his fitness will be monitored before Bangladesh’s first contest against Sri Lanka on 7 June after he suffered a side strain before the final match of the recent series against Zimbabwe.

The Tigers have backed experience. Other than Das, they have former Bangladesh skippers Mahmudullah and Shakib Al Hasan who can provide Najmul Hossain Shanto much-needed support as he undertakes his first ICC tournament as the new captain.

Squad

Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Taskin Ahmed (Vice Captain), Litton Kumer Das, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmud Ullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Tanvir Islam, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib. Travelling reserves: Afif Hossain, Hasan Mahmud

Fixtures

vs Sri Lanka 7 June Dallas

vs South Africa 10 June New York

vs Netherlands 13 June St. Vincent

vs Nepal 16 June St. Vincent

Key player:Mustafizur Rahman

In conditions that are expected to be slow with some assistance for spinners, Mustafizur Rahman’s skill set including deceptive off-cutters can turn out to be useful.

Mustafizur has time and again proven to be a match-winner for Bangladesh. His control in the middle overs and effectiveness in the final overs with a recovering Taskin Ahmed makes him a priceless inclusion.

Nepal

Nepal will feature a young side at the T20 World Cup, with 21-year-old Rohit Paudel leading the team as captain. Paudel’s recent form against West Indies A in the lead up to the tournament is a big positive with scores of 112, 71* and 82 in the series.

Gulshan Jha, who appeared at the U19 World Cup earlier in the year, along with 19-year-old Pratis GC are the other young stars expected to bring fireworks.

Sompal Kami, the fast bowling all-rounder, is the sole player from Nepal’s inaugural 2014 squad to feature in the 2024 edition, with veteran Karan KC joining him as the team’s senior member.

This will mark Nepal’s second appearance in the tournament making them the least experienced side in the group.

Squad

Rohit Paudel (c), Aasif Sheikh, Anil Kumar Sah, Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Lalit Rajbanshi, Karan KC, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Pratis GC, Sundeep Jora, Abinash Bohara, Sagar Dhakal, Kamal Singh Airee

Fixtures

vs Netherlands 4 June Dallas

vs Sri Lanka 11 June Florida

vs South Africa 14 June St. Vincent

vs Bangladesh 16 June St. Vincent

Key player:Dipendra Singh Airee,

The latest entrant in the six sixes club, Dipendra Singh Airee, comes in with a hard-hitting reputation. Dipendra bludgeoned six sixes in the ACC Men’s T20I Premier Cup clash against Qatar becoming only the third men’s player to do so in T20Is after Yuvraj Singh (2007) and Keiron Pollard (2021).

He also is the current record holder of the fastest T20I fifty. The right-handed batter achieved this feat in nine balls, breaking Yuvraj’s record of 12 deliveries.

The 24-year-old’s contribution in the middle overs can help Nepal put up a strong challenge in the group.

Netherlands

The Netherlands have often brought the element of surprise in an ICC tournament. They have the edge over Proteas, beating them in the last two ICC Men’s tournaments – in the 2022 T20 World Cup and the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

They will face South Africa again on 8 June in New York aiming to complete a hat-trick of wins. 20-year-old Michael Levitt has found a place in the absence of Colin Ackermann after an impressive hundred against Namibia earlier this year.

The Dutch have restored their core players for this edition with captain Scott Edwards, Bas de Leede, Logan van Beek, Max O’Dowd, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Vikram Singh and Wesley Barresi bringing the experience.

Squad

Scott Edwards (c), Aryan Dutt, Bas de Leede, Daniel Doram, Fred Klaassen, Logan van Beek, Max O’Dowd, Michael Levitt, Paul van Meekeren, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Teja Nidamanuru, ??Tim Pringle, Vikram Singh, Viv Kingma, Wesley Barresi. Reserve: Kyle Klein

Fixtures

vs Nepal 4 June Dallas

vs South Africa 8 June New York

vs Bangladesh 13 June St. Vincent

vs Sri Lanka vs 16 June St. Lucia

Key player:Bas de Leede

Bas de Leede has been instrumental for the Netherlands with both bat and ball. For his impressive performance last year, de Leede was awarded with the ICC Men’s Associate Cricketer of the Year.

However, the 24-year-old all-rounder has played little T20I cricket of late, with his recent appearances in the tri-series with Scotland and Ireland being his first matches in the shortest format since 2022 at the most recent edition of the T20 World Cup. De Leede was one of the Netherlands’ best at the event where he finished as their leading wicket-taker with 13 scalps.

South Africa

Perhaps the strongest side in this group and the tournament, South Africa have put together a strong squad.

The batting line-up consists of experienced Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and Reeza Hendricks who can bludgeon bowling attacks with Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs promising to bring the spark of youth.

The fast-bowling department displays assurance with Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen and Ottniel Baartman. Meanwhile, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi and Bjorn Fortuin complete the spin department.

However, the Proteas side miss a genuine all-rounder in their line-up. Jansen has proven to be handy with the bat but primarily serves as their opening bowler.

The pressure will be on as Proteas hope to make their first appearance in a final of the Men’s T20 World Cup.

Squad

Aiden Markram (c), Ottniel Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs

Fixtures

vs Sri Lanka 3 June. New York

vs Netherlands 8 June, New York

vs Bangladesh 10 June, New York

vs Nepal 14 June, St. Vincent

Key player:Heinrich Klaasen

The dangerous Heinrich Klaasen has been in top form since the start of this year. Across all T20 competitions, Klaasen has smashed 76 maximums in 30 matches.

Klaasen brings versatility. Not only can he keep wickets, but he also can attack against spin bowling with a strike rate of just below 160 against them in T20s. His performance in this year’s SA20 and the IPL has confirmed that he can perfectly play the explosive middle-order batter role.

Sri Lanka

Wanindu Hasaranga will undertake his first major assignment as the newly appointed Sri Lanka. The Lions have struck a balance with a unit that checks most of the boxes.

Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, and Dhananjaya De Silva compose a firm batting group. Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka bring experience as seam-bowling all-rounders with captain Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage as the spin-bowling all-rounders.

Maheesh Theekshana is expected to share spin duties with Hasaranga equally. Dilshan Madushanka’s bowling prowess in the Powerplay will be lethal to deal with Matheesha Pathirana to take care of the final overs with Dushmantha Chameera, and Nuwan Thushara completing the pace attack.

Squad

Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka. Traveling Reserves: Asitha Fernando, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Janith Liyanage

Fixtures

vs South Africa 3 June, New York

vs Bangladesh 7 June, Dallas

vs Nepal 11 June, Florida

vs Netherlands 16 June, St. Lucia

Key player:Matheesha Pathirana

A bowler who can deliver every ball at over 145 kmph with a lethal yorker in his arsenal – Matheesha Pathirana will prove a headache for most batters, especially in the death overs.

Pathirana’s recent exploits at the Indian Premier League (IPL) have added to his reputation as a dangerous pacer despite only having played six T20Is. In only six games for Chennai in IPL 2024, the death-specialist to 13 wickets with an economy rate of 7.68.

Although he returned midway through the IPL season with a hamstring injury, Pathirana has been named in the squad and is expected to be fit in time.

(ICC)

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

Published

7 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]

Sports

Good intentions, wrong choices for Kirsten

Published

7 hours ago

2026/10/20

Sahan Weerasooriya

by Rex Clementine

‎

The curtain raiser of the tri-nation series in Pakistan went down to the wire and although Sri Lanka were into their tail, hopes of pulling off an unlikely victory remained alive as Dasun Shanaka threatened to produce something special on his return to ODI cricket.

‎Finding the boundary with remarkable ease, Shanaka had raced to 28 off just 18 balls when he gave charge to Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi, only to perish in his attempt to clear the ropes. As the wicket fell, Head Coach Gary Kirsten made no attempt to conceal his frustration. His disappointment was there for all to see. In simple terms, he was pleading with his senior most player to use his head.

‎‎Afridi was bowling his final over. Had Shanaka resisted the temptation to take him on and simply seen him off, Sri Lanka would have been in a far better position.

‎Kirsten is a good man. Beyond coaching the team, he has made a genuine effort to instil the values that earned him enormous respect from team mates and opponents alike during his playing days.‎

‎Watching his side squander one golden opportunity after another must be driving the South African up the wall. For Sri Lankan cricket fans, however, this is familiar territory. They have seen this movie far too many times and the ending rarely changes.

‎Kirsten is known to be meticulous in his preparation, leaving no stone unturned when it comes to homework. He would be well advised to devote some of that diligence to studying the characters in his dressing room. If he intends to learn about them the hard way, he is in for a particularly painful education.

‎‎First came the Niroshan Dickwella episode. Few would quarrel with Kirsten’s assessment that Dickwella is the finest gloveman in the country. But wicketkeeping ability was never the issue. It was the baggage and distractions that came with him. Three years ago, Sri Lankan cricket drew a line in the sand and decided enough was enough. Bringing him back was a step in the wrong direction.

‎‎The same argument applies to Dasun Shanaka. On Sunday, he returned to ODI cricket after an absence of two years and nine months. Like Dickwella, Shanaka had done precious little of significance to warrant a recall. And, as with Dickwella, his return appears to have come at the Head Coach’s insistence. He seems to be placing a lot of emphasis on experience. These are decisions Kirsten may live to regret.‎

Players blessed with cricketing intelligence and common sense seem to be an increasingly endangered species in our part of the world. Too many modern day cricketers are reluctant to push their boundaries, challenge themselves or venture beyond their comfort zones.

‎‎Kirsten’s efforts to reform a deeply entrenched and often incorrigible system deserve both appreciation and wholehearted support. But even the finest coach cannot make bricks without straw. He must choose his personnel wisely.

‎‎All too often in Sri Lankan cricket, coaches and selectors end up at loggerheads, each pointing the finger at the other when results go south. This time, encouragingly, there appears to be genuine cooperation. Both parties are pulling in the same direction, determined to achieve something worthwhile.

‎‎That makes it all the more important that they do their homework on the players they choose to back.

‎‎Shanaka could prove a costly gamble, just as Dickwella did. Their problems are different, of course. Shanaka is not associated with the sort of drug related controversy that engulfed Dickwella. His weakness lies elsewhere: a reluctance to accept responsibility for his own shortcomings and a tendency to look for someone else to blame.

‎‎That, too, can become an enormous distraction in a dressing room.

‎‎Kirsten has taken on the admirable challenge of changing Sri Lankan cricket’s culture. But before he can change the system, he must make sure he is backing the right people. Otherwise, the very players he hopes to reform may end up undermining the good work he has set out to do.

Sports

The Maharaja of Maitland Place

Published

7 hours ago

2026/10/20

Sahan Weerasooriya

Shammi Silva

The staggering sums Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) reportedly splashed out on its former President Shammi Silva have raised eyebrows among stakeholders, with revelations suggesting that the former cricket chief and several members of his Executive Committee enjoyed the high life while Sri Lankan cricket struggled to keep its head above water.

‎‎The spotlight has fallen firmly on Shammi Silva, whose expenses during his six year reign make for some eye watering reading.

‎‎During that period, SLC reportedly forked out more than Rs. 43 million on his airfares alone. As if that were not enough, Shammi Silva also claimed USD 145,000 in per diems, equivalent to more than Rs. 45 million. That takes the combined bill for air travel and daily allowances beyond Rs. 88 million.‎

‎And that is before accommodation and other expenses enter the equation. Clearly, travelling on cricket business was no exercise in austerity.

‎‎Under his watch, Sri Lankan cricket went into a tailspin. Humiliating defeats became increasingly familiar, the national team was reduced to playing qualifying tournaments to secure places at major ICC events and Sri Lanka even failed to qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

‎But while the team’s fortunes were heading south, there was apparently no shortage of funds to keep the President travelling in style.‎

‎Sri Lankan cricket may have been struggling to make ends meet on the field, but its President seemingly had no such worries off it. The results were forgettable, the expenses unforgettable.

‎While the team struggled to deliver the goods, the man at the helm appeared to be living in the fast lane, spending like a drunken sailor on shore leave.

‎The cricket may have been economy class, but the President certainly wasn’t.