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Crushing India loss a ‘wake-up call’, says Sri Lanka coach

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1 week ago

September 18, 2023

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Crushing India loss a 'wake-up call', says Sri Lanka coach

Sri Lanka’s crushing 10-wicket loss to India in the Asia Cup final should help the team learn lessons for the ODI World Cup, coach Chris Silverwood said Sunday.

The home team were bowled out for just 50 in 15.2 overs with Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj ripping through the batting with his 6-21 in Colombo.

Sri Lanka were playing their 11th Asia Cup final but the 116-minute humilation left the fans disappointed and coach Silverwood said he hoped it will be a blessing in disguise.

“Sometimes a bit of a kick up the rear end is not the worst thing going into a World Cup,” Silverwood told reporters.

“Maybe this is just a wake up call, that for us to compete against teams like India, Australia, and New Zealand – those types of guys – we have to be on top of our game.

He said, “Maybe there’s something we can use out of this that can motivate us heading into that World Cup.”

Sri Lanka, who have made the ODI World Cup starting October 5 in India after playing the qualifiers, went in as underdogs in the regional 50-over tournament.

But what unfolded in the final was unexpected as Dasun Shanaka’s Sri Lanka fell like a pack of cards after they elected to bat first.

“Clearly it was a bad day in the office. Clearly we came up against a very high-class bowling unit,” said Silverwood.

“It was a shame to finish the way we did. It’s one of those things we can’t dwell on too much because we’ve got a big tournament coming up. There are lessons to learn and questions to be asked in the dressing room.”

Sri Lanka overcame an inconsistent showing at the start of the tournament and sneaked into the Super Fours with a dramatic win over Afghanistan.

Fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana and left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage stood out for Sri Lanka with 21 wickets between them and Silverwood counted them as positives from the tournament.

“We played some very good cricket to get to the final. We had to fight very hard. For me it was an achievement,” said Silverwood.

“But if we take today out of the equation, we’ve seen two youngsters put their hands up, in Dunith Wellalage, and Matheesha Pathirana. We’ve seen two of them really put up their hands on the world stage.”

He added, “Sadeera (Samarawickrama) played some good knocks. (Kusal) Mendis has come back into form. But clearly consistency is something we need to bring into the game.”

Sri Lanka will start their World Cup campaign against South Africa in Delhi on October 7.

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Bangladesh name Najmul captain for third New Zealand ODI

Published

2 days ago

September 25, 2023

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Bangladesh name Najmul captain for third New Zealand ODI

Bangladesh named batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto captain for the third one-day international against New Zealand and brought several senior players back.

Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, and Shoriful Islam join Najmul for the must-win contest at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Tuesday.

New Zealand are leading the three-match series 1-0 thanks to their 86-run win in the second match on Saturday, the side’s first win against Bangladesh in the country in nearly 15 years.

The first match was washed out by rain.

The Kiwis last beat Bangladesh in their own backyard in October 2008.

They then lost the next two series in 2010 and 2013, respectively, by 4-0 and 3-0.

Over that period, New Zealand’s only ODI victory in Bangladesh came against South Africa in the 2011 World Cup quarter-final.

Bangladesh rested Liton Das, Tamim Iqbal, Khaled Ahmed, Soumya Sarkar, Mustafizur Rahman, and Tanzim Hasan, who all played in the second match against New Zealand.

Regular captain Shakib Al Hasan did not play any part of the series. In the absence of Shakib and Liton, Najmul is now set to become the 16th ODI captain for Bangladesh.

The series is the last for both teams ahead of the upcoming World Cup in India, which opens on October 5.

Squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Zakir Hasan, Anamul Haque, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Rishad Hossain.

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Sports

Naseem Shah likely to undergo shoulder surgery

Published

2 days ago

September 25, 2023

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Naseem Shah likely to undergo shoulder surgery

Pakistan’s pace icon Naseem Shah, who was injured in the match against India in the Asia Cup, is likely to undergo shoulder surgery.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Shah had been asked for the shoulder surgery following his medical examination and consultation with experts. It is expected that recovery of fast bowler will take four months.

Also Read: Naseem Shah bowls Indian girl over with ‘charming look’

Earlier, Pakistan Cricket Team chief selector Inzamamul Haq had also mentioned the health of Shah while he was announcing the squad for the ICC World Cup.

Also Read: Naseem Shah does it again as Pakistan win last-over thriller against Afghanistan

Naseem Shah, who is not part of the World Cup 2023 squad expressed his dismay through his Tweet.

Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), Shah mentioned that “With a heavy heart, I’m sharing that I will not be part of this amazing team that will be representing our beloved country. While I’m disappointed, I believe everything is in Allah’s hands. InshahAllah will be on the field very soon.”

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Sports

Leather, willow and sunflowers: China gets to grip with cricket

Published

2 days ago

September 25, 2023

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Leather, willow and sunflowers: China gets to grip with cricket

There’s a reverential hush from the respectful crowd as Pakistan’s Sadia Iqbal opens the bowling to Bangladesh’s Shathi Rani in the Asian Games women’s bronze medal match in Hangzhou.

The sound of leather on willow echoes around the purpose-built cricket ground, which until recently was full of sunflowers.

The atmosphere is more village green than the fever pitch of, say, Pakistan’s Gaddafi Stadium, but the few hundred spectators are fully engaged — even if many admit to never seeing the game before.

Almost entirely Chinese, the crowd “oohs and aahs” and clap when a wicket falls, cheer every boundary and then look bewildered when a loud lbw appeal pierces the serenity of the Zhejiang University of Technology (ZJUT) Cricket Field.

“I didn’t ever see cricket before so I was interested to know more about this sport,” said spectator Huang Dapeng, who runs his own business in Hangzhou. “I’m starting to understand it a little, but I am really enjoying it anyway.” A few have some knowledge of the game and seem captivated.

“I travelled to Sri Lanka before and a friend invited me to watch cricket, so I became interested,” said Liang Xiaoqian, a travel agent. “When I heard it was in the Asian Games I wanted to learn more about this game,” she added, ahead of Monday afternoon’s final between India and Sri Lanka.

“I am enjoying watching. I will be supporting Sri Lanka in the gold medal match.” Others are there just because it is the Asian Games and they want to watch sport, any sport. “It’s the only Asian Games tickets we could get,” said a smiling Jeff Wang, an engineer who was sitting in the stand with his father Wang Hang.

“It’s my first time to watch cricket. It’s unknown to me before, I don’t really know what is going on. “But I did hear this game is very famous in South Asia.”

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