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Pathirana and Madushanka out of ODIs against India
Two further Sri Lanka fast bowlers have been ruled out of the ODIs against India, with Matheesha Pathirana picking up a shoulder complaint, and Dilshan Madushanka injuring a hamstring.
Sri Lanka are also without Dushmantha Chameera, who is out with illness, and Nuwan Thushara, who fractured his thumb. Both these players had missed the T20Is as well.
For now Sri Lanka have brought uncapped right-arm seamer Mohamad Shiraz into the squad, team manager Mahinda Halangoda confirmed to ESPNcricinfo. Later in the afternoon, a statement from Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed a second uncapped right-arm seamer was added to the squad: Eshan Malinga. Three players were also put on standby: batter Kusal Perera, seamer Pramod Madushan and spinner Jeffrey Vandersay.
“Matheesha has jarred his shoulder, and because it is the same issue that he had during the World Cup last year, they have chosen not to risk it,” Halangoda said. Pathirana had picked up the injury while fielding in the third T20I in Pallekele, and had left the field soon after, before he had bowled a single delivery in that game.
Madushanka, meanwhile, had sustained the hamstring injury while training, Halangoda said. He had played only one match in the T20I series.
Both Pathirana and Madushanka were likely to be in the XI for the first ODI against India, on Friday. Sri Lanka have lost their last 10 matches across formats against India.
[Cricinfo]
Novak Djokovic set up a mouth-watering Australian Open quarter-final against Carlos Alcaraz with a convincing victory over Jiri Lehecka.
Djokovic continued his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title with a 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4) win against the Czech 24th seed.
He will face Alcaraz in the last eight after the Spaniard progressed when British number one Jack Draper retired with a hip injury earlier on Sunday.
Alcaraz has beaten Djokovic in the past two Wimbledon finals, but the Serb got the better of the 21-year-old to win gold at the Paris Olympics last summer – Djokovic’s self-proclaimed “biggest sporting achievement”.
Djokovic was booed by the crowd as Lehecka threatened to force a fourth set, and the 11-time Australian Open champion was quick to leave Rod Laver Arena after his victory.
“Thank you very much for being here tonight. I appreciate your support and I will see you in the next round,” the 37-year-old said.
Speaking in a news conference afterwards, Djokovic clarified his reasons for swerving the usual on-court interview with four-time major winner Jim Courier.
He referred to the actions of Channel 9 newsreader Tony Jones, who shouted “Novak, he’s overrated, Novak’s a has-been, Novak kick him out” towards Djokovic fans while live on camera on Friday.
“A couple days ago the famous sports journalist who works for official broadcaster Channel 9 here in Australia made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me,” Djokovic said. “So since they’re official broadcasters, I chose not to give interviews for Channel 9. I have nothing against Jim Courier or the Australian public. “It was a very awkward situation for me.”
On Monday, Jones said he thought the comments were “banter” and “humour”, but gave an on-air apology – one he said he had already offered to Djokovic’s team 48 hours earlier. “I stand by that apology to Novak, if he felt any disrespect, which quite clearly he does.”
Channel 9 issued a public apology as well, saying “no harm was intended towards Novak or his fans”.
[BBC Sports]
Ninety Palestinian prisoners have been released as part of the first phase of a much-awaited ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, the Israeli prison service has said
Earlier, on Sunday, three Israeli hostages were released by Hamas to the Red Cross in Gaza City hours after a ceasefire began, before being handed to the Israeli military. Israel says the three are now back in Israeli territory
The released women – 31 year old Doron Steinbrecher, dual British-Israeli Emily Damari 28 and Romi Gonen 24 – are being treated in a Tel Aviv hospital, and are in a stable condition.
Emily was seen with bandages over two missing fingers, hugging her mother in a video call shared with BBC’s Lucy Manning.
Hamas says for every hostage released, 30 Palestinian prisoners will be released from Israeli jails – it means 90 Palestinians were expected to be released.
[BBC]
The Provincial Directors of Education of the North Central and Eastern provinces have announced that all government schools in the North Central and Eastern Provinces will remain closed today (January 20) in view of the prevailing adverse weather conditions.
Djokovic sets up blockbuster match with Alcaraz
Trump promises blizzard of executive orders on first day of presidency
Rainy condition is expected to continue further in Northern, North-central, Eastern,Uva and Central provinces
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