Sports

CA committed to Sri Lanka despite DFAT travel warning

Published

4 years ago

2022/05/14

Demonstrations in Colombo were peaceful until Monday

Cricket Australia (CA) insists it remains committed to touring Sri Lanka next month despite political unrest prompting the Australian government to suggest citizens “reconsider” their need to travel to the island.Three weeks out from the national men’s team scheduled arrival in Colombo for a three-format tour, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has updated its travel advice for Sri Lanka after the nation’s devastating economic crisis triggered violence this week.CA issued a statement on Thursday suggesting its plans for the six-week long tour featuring matches in Kandy, Galle, Hambantota as well as the capital Colombo remain in place.“We are keeping a close eye on developments in Sri Lanka and talking regularly with DFAT and Sri Lanka Cricket,” said a spokesperson.“Our players and support staff have been briefed and will continue to be kept up to date. There are three weeks until the scheduled departure of the squad and at this stage there are no changes to the schedule.”Amid fuel, food and medicine shortages, the mostly peaceful demonstrations that had been held over the past month boiled over into violent clashes this week, leading to prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigning.A curfew is in place and security forces have been ordered to shoot looters on sight.
DFAT’s “reconsider your need to travel” advice is the same as the advisory in place for Pakistan, where Australia successfully toured for three Tests and as well four limited-overs matches in March-April, albeit with heavy security provisions.

The men’s team have also toured Bangladesh (in 2017 and 2021) when security was a concern. The only hitch on either of those tours was when local kids threw a rock at the Aussie team bus in Chittagong during the second Test in 2017, with no one hurt in the incident.CA’s head of security Stuart Bailey visited Sri Lanka last month and cleared it safe to visit.
“Several violent incidents have taken place during large demonstrations,” DFAT’s travel advice to Australians, updated on Wednesday, now reads. “Avoid demonstrations and events that draw large groups.“Public demonstrations continue to occur throughout Sri Lanka. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transport.“You may experience disruption to fuel supply and planned, lengthy power outages. Import delays may impact your ability to access some medicines and food items.”Australia have not toured Sri Lanka since 2016 when both its men’s and women’s teams played matches on the island. A men’s Australia A team is also scheduled to play four matches on the tour next month.Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka, 2022 T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner, Matthew Wade
June 7: First T20, Colombo
June 8: Second T20, Colombo
June 11: Third T20, Kandy
ODI squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner
June 14: First ODI, Kandy
June 16: Second ODI, Kandy
June 19: Third ODI, Colombo
June 21: Fourth ODI, Colombo
June 24: Fifth ODI, Colombo
Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner
June 29 – July 3: First Test, Galle
July 8-12: Second Test, Galle
Australia A fixtures
Squad: Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Pete Handscomb, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nic Maddinson, Todd Murphy, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Tanveer Sangha, Mark Steketee
June 8: First one-day game, Colombo
June 10: Second one-day game, Colombo
June 14-17: first-class tour match, Hambantota
June 21-24: first-class tour match, Hambantota

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Injury-hit New Zealand eye revenge as Afghanistan look to run it back

Published

18 mins ago

2026/02/8

Priyan

Rashid Khan is Afghanistan's talisman [Cricinfo]

Afghanistan vs New Zealand in the early stages of a T20 World Cup. Sounds familiar? The memories of their clash in 2024 will be very pleasant or downright horrific depending on who you support. It proved a pivotal result with the teams going in vastly opposite directions after Afghanistan’s stunning 84-run hammering in Guyana.

It kick-started Afghanistan’s fairytale semi-final run, fuelling an outpouring of revelry in the streets back home. For New Zealand, it was effectively the beginning of the end as they flamed out in a rare early exit at a global tournament.

The teams have not played in any format since, creating even more anticipation for a rematch with big stakes. Group D is considered the ‘group of death’ with South Africa also in its ranks, amplifying the importance of this match for teams considered dark horses in the tournament.

New Zealand will be keen to banish the demons, but enter with plenty of question marks following a 4-1 series pummelling to India ahead of the World Cup. Of most concern, injury and illness have swept the squad and a strong start to the tournament could prove difficult.

But New Zealand should be at least familiar with the conditions, with some players having been in India for about a month. They should be match-hardened, and there will be confidence that the team can build through the tournament if they can weather this early storm.

They will need to muster one of their famed backs against the wall efforts, although there is no shortage of talent with New Zealand boasting a powerful batting order and several speedsters threatening to do damage if conditions are conducive.

Given the uncertainties over New Zealand, Afghanistan might just enter the match as favourites as they eye a strong start to a campaign they hope will go even further than their 2024 breakout.

Afghanistan will arrive confident having won six straight matches in the format before a 15-run defeat to West Indies in their series finale in Dubai last month.

They will unleash a formidable spin-heavy attack that should relish favourable conditions. While other Asian countries are hogging the spotlight, for various reasons, Afghanistan will go in under the radar but internally there should be optimism that they can inflict damage on high-profile opponents.

New Zealand Cricket has taken a pragmatic approach to the proliferation of T20 leagues by allowing players to take up casual agreements to have flexibility with their international commitments. Finn Allen has been one to take up the offer and it meant he missed most of the white-ball tour against India due to the BBL. But he has stated a strong desire to keep playing international cricket, music to the ears of New Zealand’s hierarchy. He clubbed 80 off 38 balls in his return in the fifth T20I in his first international match in 10 months. After a long layoff last year due to a foot injury, Allen ignited title-winners Perth Scorchers and he rewrote the six-hitting records during his destructive rampage. Such is the brutality, he even sometimes made opening partner Mitchell Marsh look relatively sedate by comparison. If he continues his heater – there is some doubt over his fitness for the opener – then New Zealand will get off to flyers.

Rashid Khan, obviously, is Afghanistan’s talisman and looms large over their campaign. There isn’t much more that can be said about the leggie who has taken the most wickets in T20I history with an economy of just six. The burden on his shoulders is even greater these days with the captaincy responsibilities but he should absolutely relish the likely drier surfaces. Rashid, of course, was at the heart of Afghanistan’s famous victory over New Zealand at the last T20 World Cup with a mesmerising 4 for17 from four overs and he’ll fancy something similar here.

New Zealand enter the tournament in disarray as they battle injury and illness. Batters Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway have been struck down with illness, while Allen is nursing a shoulder injury he sustained against India. Allrounder Michael Bracewell and fast bowler Lockie Ferguson have been dealing with calf issues. There is optimism from the New Zealand camp that they will have a near full-strength squad to choose from although Ravindra appears unlikely to recover in time.

New Zealand XI (Probable): Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra/Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (capt), Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry Ish Sodhi

Unlike New Zealand, Afghanistan have few concerns and should field a full-strength line-up which includes their favoured spin-heavy attack.

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

[Cricinfo]

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Vulnerable Sri Lanka present Ireland opportunity for an upset

Published

34 mins ago

2026/02/8

Priyan

Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana will support Wanindu Hasaranga [Cricinfo]

There was a time when Sri Lanka were among the most consistent T20I sides. Between 2009 and 2014, they made the semi-finals of four successive T20 World Cups. But since then, they haven’t qualified for the knockouts even once.

This time, they are the co-hosts. But that may not be a huge advantage. Their captain Dasun Shanaka isn’t happy with the Sri Lankan pitches, which he feels are too slow for T20 cricket. At the R Premadasa Stadium, where they start their campaign and later play against Zimbabwe, their win-loss record in T20Is is 8-24 – the worst among the four home venues. Having recently been swept 3-0 at home by England, their confidence may not be high either.

So, can Ireland, their opponents today [Sunday], take advantage of that? At the 2024 T20 World Cup, Ireland had failed to win even one match. But they come into this edition on the back of two series wins, albeit against Italy and UAE but in Dubai, where the conditions might not have been too different from what they will get in Sri Lanka. If they are to qualify for the Super Eights, they will have to beat at least one of Sri Lanka and Australia.

Pathum Nissanka, Sri Lanka’s leading run-getter in T20Is, has a career strike rate of only 127.25. But don’t get fooled by that. In the last couple of years, he has really upped his game. Since the start of 2025, he has scored 717 runs at a strike rate of 147.22 . He also scored his maiden T20I hundred during this period: 107 off 58 balls against India in the Asia Cup. Sri Lanka will need more blazing starts from him at the World Cup.

Just like Nissanka, Ireland captain Paul Stirling is the leading run-scorer for his team. But unlike Nissanka, he hasn’t been in great form. Since 2025, he has scored only 233 runs in 14 T20Is, at an average of 19.41, a strike rate of 133.14 and a best of 45. Can he find his mojo and lead by example?

Sri Lanka may decide to go in with an extra batter, possibly in the form of Janith Liyanage. But the nature of the pitch will decide that. Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka, and Pavan Rathnayake are also competing for two spots.

Sri Lanka (probable): Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake/Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis/Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana

Josh Little is the only Ireland player to have played in the IPL, but given his recent struggles with form and fitness, he is not assured of a spot in the first XI.

Ireland (probable): Paul Stirling (capt), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (wk), Curtis Campher, Ben Calitz, George Dockrell, Gareth Delany, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy/Josh Little, Matthew Humphreys

[Cricinfo]

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Suryakumar’s unbeaten 84 helps India overcome USA scare

Published

46 mins ago

2026/02/8

Priyan

Suryakumar Yadav gave India a big finish [Cricinfo]

The shortest official format of the game, T20, it turns out, is long enough to build someone up and then break their hearts. USA were the third team on the opening day of the T20 World Cup 2026 to threaten an upset, reducing India’s much-feared batting to 46 for 4 and 77 for 6, but met the same fate as Netherlands and Scotland. Suryakumar Yadav – dropped on 17 off 15 – scored a masterful 84 not out off 49 to give India plenty to defend on a surface where the ball gripped enough to make shot-making fraught.

Suryakumar scored 48 off the last 18 balls he faced, including 21 off the last over, dragging seven deliveries from wide outside off to the leg-side boundary, often ending up on his back after completing the shot. The bowlers, led by the early strikes from Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh, never let the chase get going to ensure the lowest successful defence in a T20I at Wankhede Stadium.

The moment USA asked the clearest of favourites in any T20 World Cup to bat first, talk revolved around 300. Not without reason: India have crossed 250 three times since the last World Cup, and here they were on a generally true batting surface, a small playing field and an Associate team to take on.

USA began with square leg and sweeper cover as the two men outside the ring. Abhishek Sharma, the best T20I batter in the world, fell for a golden duck to deep cover. Shadley van Schalkwyk then took three wickets in the last over of the powerplay: Ishan Kishan to a slower full ball, Tilak Varma to a quick short ball and Shivam Dube for another golden duck to a slower short ball. Perhaps because of extra grass and moisture in order to have the square last the tournament, the pitch just had a bit of grip to make these wickets possible.

Grandson of Vasant Ranjane who played seven Tests for India, Shubnam Ranjane played his last match for Mumbai under the captaincy of Suryakumar. Now an international for USA, he started off the night at former home ground with a dive to save four runs. Then he dropped Kishan for not much damage. When he started bowling, he created a return chance from his former captain, but put it down by his shoe laces.

A tall and quick legspinner, Mohammad Mohsin kept the choke hold in the middle overs. Not having conceded a single boundary in the first 15 balls, he created a long-on catch from Rinku Singh. Harmeet Singh, another former Mumbai player, then got the current Mumbai Indians captain, Hardik Pandya, caught at deep cover, again the ball stopping on him.

Once Harmeet got Axar Patel caught at deep midwicket to make it 118 for 7 in the 17th over, two things were clear. That even a tall left-hand batter was struggling to time left-arm spinners, which meant India had a chance. And that Suryakumar still had work to do.

Just as India started to open up, Ali Khan – two overs for 13 runs – injured himself while diving. Ranjane took up the bowling job, bowled well and then injured himself diving in his followthrough. Suryakumar then took full toll of the 20th over, bowled by Netravalkar, who now holds the record for most runs conceded in a T20 World Cup match: 65.

Siraj was not supposed to be a part of this World Cup. Then Harshit Rana injured himself in the warm-up fixture against South Africa. He still wasn’t supposed to be in the XI, but Jasprit Bumrah fell sick. On he came, playing a T20I for the first time in two years, and took a wicket fourth ball, sending back the big-hitting Andries Gous. Arshdeep Singh, who set the tone with no runs off the bat in the first over, got stuck in with the wicket of Monank Patel. Siraj made it three similar wickets when he had Saiteja Mukkamalla caught at short midwicket. All three were mistimed slightly because of the slowness of the pitch.

With no dew around, Varun Charavarthy and Axar proved to be too good for USA on this surface. A period of 22 balls without a boundary was broken by a six by Milind Kumar, but Varun soon had him stumped. Sanjay Krishnamurthi hung in, brought the equation down to 62 off the last five overs, but Axar ended the fight with two wickets in two balls.

Brief scores:
India 161 for 9 in 20 overs (Isshan Kishan 20, Tilak Varma 25, Suryakumar Yadav 84*, Axar Patel 14; Ali Khan 1-13, Shadley van Schalkwyk 4-25, Mohammed Mohsin 1-16, Harmeet Singh 2-26) beat USA 132 for 8 in 20 overs (Milind Kumar 34, Shubham Ranjane 37, Sanjay Krishnamurthi 37; Mohammed Siraj 3-29, Arshdeep Singh 2-18, Varun Chakravrthy 1-24, Axar Patel 2-24) by 29 runs