Sports
A repeat of 1992 World Cup final at MCG
Rex Clementine
in Melbourne
This cricket is indeed a funny game. If you remember Sri Lanka’s tour of England in 2006, Mahela Jayawardene’s side was mocked and ridiculed at Lord’s after they conceded over 500 runs and were made to follow on in what was a flat deck. Geoff Boycott ran down the tourists saying that they didn’t deserve to play a three match Test series in England. After all, this was the England team that had regained the Ashes only the previous year after being in the doldrums for decades.
What followed from thereon was a remarkable fightback. Sri Lanka came up with a 500 plus score in their second innings to save the Test against many odds and that turned out to be one of their most successful tours of England. Not only did they go onto win the Trent Bridge Test match but humbled England in the ODI series that followed with a 5-0 cleansweep. The hammering in the last game of course coming in Boycott’s hometown in Headingley.
A week ago, if anyone had told you that Pakistan and England would reach the finals of this World Cup, you’d have laughed off. Babar Azam’s side looked to be heading home early after defeats to India and Zimbabwe. But then South Africa choked against Netherlands giving Pakistan a sniff and they went through to the semis with a convincing win over Bangladesh. Then in the semis, they knocked out tournament favourites New Zealand to book a ticket to MCG.
England in the meanwhile were in a spot of bother after losing to Ireland and their game against Australia was rained off. Although they got their campaign back on track, their fate was in Sri Lanka’s hand heading into their last Super 12 game. A win for Dasun Shanaka’s side would have eliminated England and sent Australia into the semis. However, Jos Buttler’s side managed to beat Sri Lanka in the last over in Sydney. They took on India in the semi-final and massacred them with a ten wicket win with four overs to spare in one of the most one-sided clashes in an ICC event. Hence, a much anticipated India versus Pakistan clash was dashed.
There are no clear favourites in the final. Both teams are equally matched. Their top orders are too strong. Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are the key for Pakistan’s batting and so are Buttler and Alex Hales for England.Both teams’ middle order are vulnerable but England have the edge having someone in the caliber of Ben Stokes in their ranks.
England would be hoping Mark Wood pulls through. The quick who has sent down the fastest ball in the tournament so far clocking 154.7 kmph didn’t feature in the semi-final due to injury. He has an amazing strike rate of 13 balls per wicket.
What we will witness today is a repeat of 1992 50 over World Cup final where Imran Khan’s ‘cornered tigers’ humbled Graham Gooch’s side. Pakistan have won the T20 World Cup once in 2009 when they beat Sri Lanka at Lord’s. England won the title in the West Indies in 2010.The game could be hit by rain today and in that case, there’s a reserve day for Monday.
(Cricbuzz)
The remainder of the tenth edition of the PSL has been moved to the UAE amid escalating border tensions between Pakistan and India. The PCB has said that the dates and venues of the remaining eight games in the PSL 2025 season would be officially confirmed in due course.
On Thursday, Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi were due to play a game at the Rawalpindi Stadium, which was rescheduled following an emergency meeting. At the meeting, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with overseas players in the league, who overwhelmingly expressed a desire to relocate the league to the UAE.
ESPNcricinfo understands that foreign players are already on their way out of Pakistan to the UAE, where the rest of the league will be played. It is likely to be several days before the next game is played as the PCB works out which venues to play the games at.
The original schedule would have seen four of the remaining games in Rawalpindi, one in Multan, and the final three in Lahore. An earlier update from the PCB had said the league would be rescheduled, but did not confirm at the time it would be taken out of Pakistan, with Karachi considered a likely option.
The PSL, now in its tenth season, is familiar with the UAE, having started there back in 2016. It was played there in full – barring the PSL 2017 final – for the first two seasons. Part of season six, in 2021, also had to be played in the UAE because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Any delays to the PSL are likely to impact Pakistan’s international calendar, too. Bangladesh are due to arrive in Pakistan three days after the PSL final, originally slated for May 18, with the first of five T20Is to begin on May 25 in Faisalabad. The PCB told ESPNcricinfo that no decision had yet been taken on the fate of that series.
(Cricinfo)
Bangladesh Under 19s won the six-match Youth ODI series 3-2 after the final Youth ODI against Sri Lanka Under 19s ended without a result due to rain at the Colts ground on Thursday.
Sri Lanka came to the final match with the hope of leveling the series but rain prevented a full match.
Deciding to bat first, the visitors were 188 for three wickets in the 40th over when rain prevented further play.
Skipper Azizul Hakim led Bangladesh with 94 runs inclusive of seven fours and two sixes. For the hosts, Tharusha Navodya, Kugathas Mathulan and Himal Ravihansa took a wicket each.
Sri Lanka Under 19s won the opening encounter by a big margin but three consecutive defeats thereafter saw the visitors take command. Sri Lanka Under 19s bounced back in the penultimate match to keep alive the series but rain spoilt their plans in the final encounter.
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