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Settled Sri Lanka meet a Bangladesh in transition for ODI series opener

Published

7 months ago

2025/07/2

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Captains Charith Asalanka and Mehidy Hasan Miraz pose ahead of the ODIs [Cricinfo]

After a hard-fought Test series, the action now switches to the white-ball format, with the first of three ODIs starting today [Wednesday]. For Bangladesh it’s the dawn of a new era in many ways. They have a new ODI captain for starters, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz taking over from Najmul Hossain Shanto, but more pressingly are the recent retirements of stalwarts Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah.

To say it signals a changing of the guard would be an almost textbook definition of the idiom, in fact, as Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah were the last remaining vestiges of Bangladesh’s fab five, which also included Mashrafe Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan. You would have to go all the way back to September 2005 to find the last ODI that neither of these players took part in – coincidentally, also against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

So what does this new look Bangladesh entail? Well, they’ll be hoping recent form isn’t an accurate indicator. They’ve lost their last six completed ODIs, and 8 of their last 11 ODIs since the start of 2024. Though more promisingly, two of those wins were part of a series victory against Sri Lanka.

Since that series defeat though, Sri Lanka have been on a bit of a tear, particularly at home. They’ve beaten India, West Indies, New Zealand and Australia on home turf in the past year, with their only ODI series loss coming away to New Zealand.

And while Bangladesh are seeking to fill some big holes, Sri Lanka very well might be settling into a favoured setup. Their batting is now replete with ever more dependable performers, while their bench strength is becoming quite formidable.

Nowhere is this more exemplified than in the pace contingent with Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka included ahead of the likes of Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara and Matheesha Pathirana. Meanwhile a spin department headed by Wanidu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana is comfortably in world-class territory, and even deadlier in home conditions.

But Bangladesh have exciting talents of their own, even if overall depth is still lacking. Rishad Hossain was a key part of Bangladesh’s most recent win against Sri Lanka, while in Mehidy they have one of the premier allrounders in world cricket. Shanto, meanwhile, unburdened by captaincy will be eyeing to turn over a new leaf of his own.

So it very well could be a fresh start for this young Bangladesh outfit, and where better to start than by targeting a first-ever series win in Sri Lanka.

Maheesh Theekshana played just one out of a possible three ODIs against India last year, and then two out of three against West Indies. But since then he’s played in every home ODI he’s been available for, while even picking up seven wickets across two games in New Zealand. While Theekshana has for the most part been considered a T20 specialist, it seems the think tank is increasingly more attuned to the utility of his skill-set in ODIs as well. And even when he’s not picking up wickets, he’s creating the pressure for the bevy of spinners around him to profit.

Unlike Sri Lanka’s, Bangladesh’s spinners haven’t had all that great a time as of late, but in Rishad Hossain they have the kind of talent every team in world cricket is looking for – namely, a leg spinning all-rounder that can hit the ball far. But sadly for Bangladesh and Rishad, neither facet of his skillset has been coming off as of late. His last 10 games, internationally and in franchise cricket, has seen a high score of 13 and 11 wickets. But when Bangladesh last played Sri Lanka in the format, Rishad struck a devastating 48 off 18, with a wicket to go with it. If Bangladesh are to challenge a strong Sri Lankan outfit, Hossain will have to be on top of his game.

Sri Lanka’s XI is largely settled but there are a few areas wherein things might not be as nailed down. An opening partner for Pathum Nissanka is one of them, with Nishan Madushka preferred over Avishka Fernando in Sri Lanka’s last ODI. Eshan had a storming IPL and domestic season, which means it’ll likely be between Asitha and Madushanka for that final seamer spot.

Sri Lanka (probable): Nishan Madushka/Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Kamindu Mendis Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana Eshan Malinga Asitha Fernando/Dilshan Madushanka

The visitors have to make at least two major changes to their middle-order with Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah gone from ODIs since their last match in this format. Shanto will likely move into the middle-order with Mohammad Naim and Litton Das set to get into the top-order.

Bangladesh (probable): Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das (wk), Mohammad Naim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (capt), Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Nahid Rana

[Cricnfo]

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Afghanistan to bat first against New Zealand

Published

2 hours ago

2026/02/8

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Rashid Khan and Mitchell Santner greet each other at the toss [Cricinfo]

Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first in the 2026 T20 World Cup Group D encounter against New Zealand..

New Zealand XI Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (capt), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy

Afghanistan XI Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (capt), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ziaur Rahman, Mujeeb Ur Rahman

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‘I’d like to play on flat tracks’ – Shanaka links Sri Lanka’s batting woes to spin-friendly pitches at home

Published

2 hours ago

2026/02/8

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Dasun Shanaka fell for low scores in the England series [Cricinfo]

Dasun Shanaka’s got 99 problems, and the pitch is also one. If cricket writers misappropriating Jay Z lyrics from 22 years ago is getting kind of old, so is the complaint, sadly. For years now, Sri Lanka’s captains have been campaigning to get more batting-friendly tracks on the island. For years now, surfaces have been given to substantial spin, depressing totals while envenoming spinners through the middle overs, especially.

At the World Cup, though, a struggling Sri Lankan captain hopes his batters can perform on what he thinks will be better tracks. Sri Lanka arrive at this tournament fresh from a 3-0 bruising at home at the hands of England. Shanaka’s own returns in that recent series were modest. His scores were 20 off 16, 1 and 4.

“I think in this World Cup the ICC has told the groundstaff that they have to leave a certain amount of grass on the pitch,” Shanaka said. “Because of that, I think the number of dismissals will fall. Eventually, I’d like to get a good track on which to show how I can bat, because it’s harder to showcase my striking ability on turning wickets. Lots of people see me negatively because of this.”

In fact, there is no actual official requirement from the ICC regarding length of grass – it is only that there is greater pressure to produce surfaces conducive to good cricket (read: batting tracks) in global events.

In any case, Sri Lanka’s problems at home go back far further than the series against England, however. Since the start of 2024, Sri Lanka have lost 13 and won only nine T20Is at home. Previous captains – Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga among them – had asked for flatter decks. But then Sri Lanka were having success on big turners in the ODI format.

“Recently, we’ve had a lot of issues with the pitches,” Shanaka said. “I know the middle order hasn’t performed well. If you want to know why that happened, you should look at the kind of pitches we played on. You’ll be able to figure out why the strike rates are low and we’re losing wickets.

“I was only recently reappointed as the captain. I didn’t know what the plan was before that. In my opinion I’d like to play on flat tracks. Yes, we have some good spinners in our side, but at the same time other teams also have quality spinners. I think giving 50-50 wickets will help in future. I’d like to bat on flat tracks.”

Although Shanaka expects Sri Lankan surfaces to be better for batting, there may still be a gap between Indian tracks and Sri Lankan ones in this World Cup. Since the start of 2020, the T20I strike rate in India is 143 (the highest in the world), compared with 123 in Sri Lanka.

“If you look at India you will see how good the pitches they play on are,” Shanaka said. “Some people have a problem with India scoring so many runs and ask why Sri Lanka can’t do the same. It totally depends on conditions. You’ll be able to assess what the numbers in the World Cup are and what the previous numbers were. I think this will be a good tournament for our batters.”

[Cricinfo]

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Australia’s opposition coalition reunites after row over hate-speech laws

Published

3 hours ago

2026/02/8

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Sussan Ley said it was time to look to the future [BBC]

Australia’s Liberal-National Coalition, the country’s main opposition, reunited on Sunday, more than two weeks after the centre-right partners split in a row over hate speech laws.

“The Coalition is back together and looking to the future, not to the past,” Liberal Party leader Sussan Ley said, appearing alongside National Party leader David Littleproud in Canberra.

The Coalition split on 22 January after the Nationals, citing free speech concerns, refused to back reforms moved by the government after two gunmen targeted a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach in December, killing 15 people.

“It’s been disappointing, we’ve got to where we are but it was over a substantive issue,” Littleproud said.

The Coalition suffered a heavy election loss last year and the split last month was the second in less than 12 months.

Last year’s separation in May – largely over climate and energy policy – was resolved within a week.

This time the divisions were sown by hate speech reforms introduced by the centre-left Labor government after the Bondi Beach attack.

While the Liberals sided with the government, their National colleagues abstained from the vote in the lower house and voted against the measure in the senate, saying the measures had been rushed and posed a threat to free speech.

The legislation includes provisions that will ban groups deemed to spread hate and introduce tougher penalties for preachers who advocate violence.

Ley said the coalition had a responsibility to find a way back to government.

“I acknowledge this has been a difficult time. It has been a difficult time for millions of our Coalition supporters, and many other Australians who rely on our two great parties to provide scrutiny and leadership,” she said.

The Liberal Party leader said both parties had struck an agreement that neither party could overturn decisions taken by the Coalition’s joint “shadow cabinet”.

Dating back to the 1940s, the Coalition had not split since 1987 before the brief separation last year.

The National Party mainly represents regional communities and often leans more conservative than the Liberals.

The Coalition is facing pressure from populist Senator Pauline Hanson’s anti-immigration One Nation party, which has surged in polling, while the Liberal Party lost a swath of seats at last year’s federal election.

[BBC]