Category: Sports

The Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) has announced a 17-member squad for the upcoming ODI series against England, starting on Thursday. Charith Asalanka will lead the team as he returns to captaincy in the 50-over format, following his removal as Sri Lanka’s captain for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026.

Sri Lanka has brought back Dhananjay de Silva and Dushmantha Chameera, both of whom have been absent from the ODI setup for a considerable time, adding valuable experience to the squad. Asalanka had previously returned home with Asitha Fernando due to illness before the T20I series against Pakistan but is now fit to lead the side in ODIs. Fourteen players from the last ODI series against Pakistan have retained their positions.

Batting Line-Up
The team features a strong batting order led by Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamil Mishara, and Sadeera Samarawickrama. The middle order includes Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage.

Bowling Depth
Selectors have focused on improving bowling depth by providing a mix of spin and fast bowling options. The pace attack will include Asitha Fernando, Pramod Madushan, and Eshan Malinga, while the spin department comprises Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, and Dunith Wellalage’s left-arm spin.

The first ODI of the three-match series is scheduled for January 22 at the R. Premdasa Stadium in Colombo. The second and third ODIs will take place at the same venue on January 24 and 27.

Following the ODIs, Sri Lanka will enhance their preparations for the T20 World Cup with a three-match T20I series against England, commencing on January 30 at the Pallekele International Stadium. The second and third T20Is will also be played at the same location on February 1 and 3.

Sri Lanka’s ODI Squad:
Charith Asalanka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Pavan Rathnayake, Dhananjaya de Silva, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Eshan Malinga.

Daryl Mitchell has dethroned India stalwart Virat Kohli at the top of the men’s ODI batters’ rankings following his consecutive centuries that propelled New Zealand to a 2-1 series victory against India.

With 845 ranking points, Mitchell replaces Kohli, who dropped to No. 2 with 795 points. The two players are well clear of a chasing pack featuring Ibrahim Zadran, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Babar Azam.

This marks Mitchell’s second time holding the No. 1 ODI cricket ranking; however, his previous reign lasted only three days last November before Rohit Sharma overtook him.

Mitchell now has four ODI centuries, just one less than AB de Villiers’ five in the list of South African players with the most ODI centuries against India. His two back-to-back scores over 130 not only tie him with Martin Guptill for the most centuries in New Zealand’s ODI history, with four, but also underscore his rapid rise to the top of the ODI Batting Rankings.

Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran moved to third place with 764 ranking points, advancing past former India skipper Rohit Sharma, who is fourth with 757 points, while Mitchell and Kohli lead the rankings.

In the decisive series win in Indore, Glenn Phillips and Mitchell formed a 219-run partnership, marking the second-highest in New Zealand’s ODI history. Phillips scored 106 runs off 88 balls and moved up 16 positions to 20th in the rankings.

Phillips climbed 14 places to tie for 31st among ODI all-rounders, with Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai remaining at the top.

Michael Bracewell from New Zealand made significant gains, leaping six spots to 33rd in the ODI bowling rankings after strong performances in the first two matches of the series against India.

The top of the bowling rankings remains unchanged, with Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan leading with 710 points, followed by England’s Jofra Archer at 670 points.

Rashid climbed two places to second in the latest T20I bowler rankings after taking two wickets for Afghanistan in the opening series match against the West Indies in Dubai. Meanwhile, his teammate Mujeeb Ur Rahman moved up two spots to tie for 14th on the T20I bowlers’ list, while Ibrahim Zadran advanced five places to reach the 15th position in the latest T20I batting rankings.

Coco Gauff smoothly advanced to the third round of the women’s singles at the 2026 Australian Open, demonstrating an assertive performance on Wednesday at Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne Park.

The world No. 3 secured her 251st WTA win, just two days after achieving her 250th career victory in the Grand Slam’s opening round. The two-time Grand Slam champion defeated Olga Danilović in straight sets, winning 6-2, 6-2 in 1 hour and 17 minutes. Gauff delivered a commanding performance at Margaret Court Arena, quickly asserting her dominance by winning five straight games in the first set.

Pulling Danilović from side to side, the 21-year-old created space on the court with powerful shots, breaking serve to win the set 6-2 despite a late rally from her opponent. The second set repeated this pattern, with the third seed capitalising on unforced errors to lead 3-0. Danilović tried her best to re-engage in the match, but Gauff’s quick return and anticipation gave her a vital advantage to secure the win.

The third round will feature an all-American matchup, with Gauff set to face Hailey Baptiste in what will be their second career meeting and first since 2023.

Seventeenth seed Victoria Mboko is through to the third round of her maiden Australian Open after a straight-sets win over American Caty McNally in Melbourne on Wednesday. The result equals her best performance at a Grand Slam, matching her third-round appearance at Roland-Garros last year.

Mboko has been competing in Melbourne with a heavily wrapped right leg and explained that it’s a preventative measure to keep her knee stable after she hyperextended it last week at the Adelaide International, where she reached the final.

When third-round matches kick off on Friday, the talented right-hander will step onto court for a first-time meeting with Clara Tauson, the 14th seed who overcame Polina Kudermetova 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

In a bid to complete a career Grand Slam, world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz battled back from a break down in a thrilling 78-minute opening set against Yannick Hanfmann, securing his second straight-sets victory at the Australian Open on Wednesday.

Match Highlights

The top seed faced a stern test from Hanfmann at Rod Laver Arena but emerged triumphant with a score of 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2 after 2 hours and 44 minutes, claiming his second win this year in Melbourne.

Alcaraz played the longest first set of his career in the Slams, facing a 3-1 deficit. He saved two break points at 5-5 and later built a 4/3 lead in the tie-break before winning four consecutive points. The 34-year-old German aimed to become the first player outside the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings to defeat Alcaraz at a major.

Alcaraz expressed his thoughts: “Really, really happy that I got through a really difficult first set, and then I started to feel a little bit better on the court with my shots. Tactically I played much, much better, so I’m just happy to have played at a really good level at the end of the match and get through to another round.”

After facing three break points in his first two service games, Alcaraz did not allow another break chance until he fended off four in the final game of the match. He recorded 11 aces during his victory, including four in a row in his opening service game of the final set, as reported by ATP.

The 22-year-old is on the quest to become the youngest man in history to complete the career Grand Slam in singles and the youngest in the Open Era to win seven major singles titles.

Alcaraz is now two wins away from matching his best Australian Open result: quarterfinal runs in each of the past two years. His next opponent will either be qualifier Michael Zheng or 32nd seed Corentin Moutet in the third round.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is currently waiting for the Election Commission to announce election dates before finalizing the schedule for the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Sources have indicated that the Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been asked to finalize their home venues by the end of this week.

Elections are set to take place across various states in India, but the BCCI is awaiting the government’s announcement regarding the Assam, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal polls. The Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati will host some of the Rajasthan Royals’ home games, while the MA Chidambaram Stadium and Eden Gardens serve as home venues for the Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, respectively.

“We are working on the IPL schedule, but we are still awaiting the announcement of the election dates by the Election Commission. Once those dates are confirmed, we will be able to draw up a schedule that does not disrupt the election process or clash with matches in the poll-bound states, ensuring smooth conduct of both,” a BCCI source stated.

Recently, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) received approval to host IPL and international matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru again, though this permission comes with specific terms and conditions prescribed by the government and relevant authorities.

“As far as the home venues of RCB and RR are concerned, we have asked the franchises to take a final call and inform us within a week. Once the teams finalize their venues, we will prepare the schedule accordingly. So, at this stage, we are waiting for the teams’ decisions as well as the announcement of the election dates,” the source added.

The formal approval for marquee cricket fixtures to return to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium has ended months of uncertainty following a tragic incident during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2025 title-winning celebrations on June 4, which resulted in eleven fatalities and 56 injuries.

In the aftermath of this tragedy, the BCCI moved several major events away from the Chinnaswamy Stadium, including the Duleep Trophy, the India–South Africa men’s A series, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup, along with its final.

Hosting matches at this venue again was contingent upon implementing recommendations from the Justice Michael D’Cunha report, which was established as part of the investigation into the incident.

The KSCA faced administrative challenges as well, having operated without a treasurer and secretary for months due to their resignations following the incident. Last year, a panel led by Venkatesh Prasad took charge, focusing on bringing matches back to this iconic cricket venue.

With the state government’s clearance now in place, it will be interesting to see if RCB will play all its IPL 2026 home games in Chinnaswamy, especially considering that its vice-president Rajesh Menon recently met Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai about potentially playing two games at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Naya Raipur.

On the other hand, the Rajasthan Royals’ home venue issue for IPL 2026 arises from administrative problems within the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). The BCCI has warned the franchise that a backup venue, like Pune’s MCA Stadium, may be necessary, as Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium faces uncertainty due to the RCA’s failure to conduct elections, which is affecting the smooth hosting of matches despite efforts to retain Jaipur as the venue.

Therefore, the BCCI is pending decisions from RCB and RR regarding their venues before finalizing the IPL schedule.

Delhi Capitals opener Lizelle Lee has been fined 10 per cent of her match fees and received one demerit point for breaching the Women’s Premier League (WPL) code of conduct during the match against defending champions Mumbai Inddigihunt at the BCA Stadium.

The wicketkeeper-batter admitted to her Level 1 offence and accepted the fine. “Lee admitted to a Level 1 offence under Article 2.2 of the Code of Conduct, which relates to the abuse of cricket equipment during the match. For Level 1 breaches, the match referee’s decision is final and binding,” a WPL release stated.

The incident occurred during Delhi Capitals’ chase of 155 runs against Mumbai. Lee, who was in good form, was capitalizing on any loose deliveries. However, in the 11th over, she was stumped out after a lengthy review by the third umpire. Lee missed her half-century by just four runs and was visibly upset with the decision, as replays suggested her bat had briefly lifted off the crease just as wicketkeeper Rahila Firdous took the bails.

Following the confirmation of her dismissal after nearly five minutes of review on the big screen, Lee was involved in a heated exchange with on-field umpire Vrinda Rathi, leading to a violation of the Code of Conduct.

After the match, Lee shared her interest in becoming an umpire post-retirement. “Look, I’ve started doing umpiring, I think a few years ago. I’m just trying to get into it because I’m really enjoying it. So it’s something that I probably want to do after cricket. But I’m still going to play cricket for as long as I can,” she said in a video posted on Women’s Premier League social media.

Lee also mentioned, “I know there’s an Olympics in Brisbane in 2032 or something. But at this stage, I’m still focusing on my cricket. Hopefully, I can still play for a certain time.”

Purchased at her base price of Rs 30 lakh during the WPL auction, Lee has emerged as a key player for Delhi Capitals. Currently, she ranks as the third-highest run-scorer in WPL 2026, having accumulated 213 runs in five innings at an average of 42.60 and a strike rate of 154.35.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sources have indicated that the board is waiting for the government to announce the election dates before finalizing the schedule for the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Home Venue Decisions

According to the source, Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been asked to select their home venues by the end of this week. Elections are upcoming across various states in India, but the BCCI is holding off on scheduling until the government confirms the dates for the Assam, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal polls. The Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati hosts some home games for the Rajasthan Royals, while the MA Chidambaram Stadium and Eden Gardens serve as home venues for the Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, respectively.

Awaiting Election Dates

“We are working on the IPL schedule, but we are still awaiting the government’s announcement of the election dates. Once those dates are confirmed, we will be able to draw up a schedule that does not disrupt the election process or clash with matches in the poll-bound states, ensuring smooth conduct of both,” the BCCI source stated.

Karnataka State Cricket Association Update

Last week, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) received approval to host IPL and international cricket matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru again, although this permission is ‘subject to compliance with specific terms and conditions prescribed by the government and concerned authorities.’

Final Decisions from Franchises

“As far as the home venues of RCB and RR are concerned, we have asked the franchises to take a final call and inform us within a week. Once the teams finalize their venues, we will prepare the schedule accordingly. So, at this stage, we are waiting for the teams’ decisions as well as the announcement of the election dates,” the source added.

RCB Venue Considerations

With the state government’s clearance now secured, it will be interesting to see if RCB will play all of its IPL 2026 home games at Chinnaswamy. This consideration comes after RCB vice-president Rajesh Menon met Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai regarding the possibility of playing two games at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Naya Raipur.

Rajasthan Royals Venue Challenges

Rajasthan Royals’ home venue issue for IPL 2026 arises from administrative problems within the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). The BCCI has cautioned the franchise that it may need a backup venue, like Pune’s MCA Stadium, since Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium faces uncertainty due to RCA’s failure to hold elections, which complicates the hosting of matches, despite efforts to retain Jaipur as the venue.

Consequently, the Indian cricketing board is awaiting decisions from RCB and RR regarding their venues before finalizing the IPL schedule.

Former world champion PV Sindhu faced a challenging first-round match but ultimately secured a straight-games victory over Japan’s Manami Suizu in the opening round of the Indonesia Masters on Wednesday.

Match Summary

Sindhu had a surprising start in the first game, trailing 2-11 at the mid-game break. Despite having to defend against four game points, she managed to win the game 22-20, scoring six consecutive points. In the second game, she led throughout but couldn’t establish a comfortable lead until she ultimately won 21-18.

The Indian ace will face either Denmark’s Line Kjaersfeldt or China’s Han Qian Xi in the second round.

Kidambi Srikanth’s Thrilling Encounter

Meanwhile, former World No. 1 Kidambi Srikanth, who reached the finals of the Malaysia Masters and Syed Modi International last year, faced Japan’s Koki Watanabe in an exciting first-round match. Srikanth edged out his opponent with a scoreline of 21-15, 21-23, 24-22.

After a strong start with aggressive shot-making in the opening game, Srikanth’s performance faltered in the second as he made several errors, allowing Watanabe to catch up. In the third, he led 7-4, but errors continued to plague his game. Ultimately, Srikanth’s aggressive stroke play helped him secure the win during crucial moments, keeping Watanabe at bay.

Srikanth will next face fourth seed Chou Tien Chen in the second round.

Additional Updates

On Tuesday, Indian shuttlers Anmol Kharb and Aakarshi Kashyap secured their spots in the women’s singles main draw with notable victories in the qualifying rounds. However, Aakarshi was eliminated after losing three games in her main draw opener, and Kiran George lost in straight games in his men’s singles opener.

The mixed doubles teams of Dhruv Kapila/Tanisha Crasto and Rohan Kapoor/Ruthvika Shivani Gadde both fell in the first round to French pairs.

As the International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to make a final decision on Bangladesh’s participation in the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup on Wednesday, BCCI sources have indicated that they have no information regarding Scotland being approached as a replacement if Bangladesh chooses not to travel to India. They added that the global governing body “will decide what it deems best for cricket.”

Bangladesh’s Concerns

Bangladesh has reportedly declined to play their T20 World Cup matches in India, citing security concerns, and has requested the ICC to shift their fixtures to Sri Lanka, one of the co-hosting nations. This decision comes in the wake of the BCCI’s instruction for Kolkata Knight Riders to release pacer Mustafizur Rahman for IPL 2026 amid ongoing political tensions between the two nations.

It is also understood that Bangladesh has suggested to the ICC that they be moved to Group B, swapping places with Ireland, which is scheduled to play its group matches in Sri Lanka. However, the ICC has assured Ireland that such a move will not take place.

BCCI’s Statement

“There is no information with us on Scotland being approached as a replacement. The ICC should decide what it deems best for cricket. Several unverified reports are doing the rounds on social media, and people should rely only on official confirmation,” BCCI sources stated.

ICC’s Position

ICC officials are reportedly displeased with the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) position, as they believe the BCB has assured them there is no security threat to Bangladesh. The ICC has made it clear to Bangladesh that if they withdraw from the tournament, it will appoint a replacement team, with Scotland next in line based on their rankings.

Scotland’s Ranking

Scotland is currently the highest-ranked team that did not qualify for the World Cup, according to various media reports. They would be the team to replace Bangladesh if the ICC takes that action.

However, with the event schedule already finalized, the ICC has reportedly been resolute about not altering the World Cup schedule or permitting Bangladesh to compete in Sri Lanka, conveying this stance to the BCB during recent discussions.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice president Rajeev Shukla has indicated that the board is awaiting the government’s announcement of election dates before finalizing the schedule for the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Venue Decisions for Franchises

Shukla mentioned that Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have been asked to decide their home venues by the end of this week. Elections are set to be conducted in various states across India, but the BCCI is waiting for the government to declare the dates for polls in Assam, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. The Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati hosts some of Rajasthan Royals’ home games, while the MA Chidambaram Stadium and Eden Gardens serve as home venues for Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, respectively.

“We are working on the IPL schedule, but we are still awaiting the government’s announcement of the election dates. Once those dates are confirmed, we will be able to draw up a schedule that does not disrupt the election process or clash with matches in the poll-bound states, ensuring smooth conduct of both,” Rajeev Shukla stated.

International Matches at M Chinnaswamy Stadium

Last week, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) received approval to host IPL and international cricket matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, with the permission being subject to compliance with specific terms and conditions prescribed by the government and concerned authorities.

“As far as the home venues of RCB and RR are concerned, we have asked the franchises to take a final call and inform us within a week. Once the teams finalize their venues, we will prepare the schedule accordingly. So, at this stage, we are waiting for the teams’ decisions as well as the announcement of the election dates,” Shukla added.

RCB’s Venue Speculations

With the state government’s clearance secured, it will be interesting to see if RCB will play all of its IPL 2026 home games at Chinnaswamy. Notably, RCB’s vice-president Rajesh Menon recently met Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai about the possibility of hosting two games at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Naya Raipur.

Rajasthan Royals’ Home Venue Dilemma

Rajasthan Royals’ home venue uncertainty for IPL 2026 arises from administrative issues within the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). The BCCI has cautioned the franchise about the need for a backup venue, such as Pune’s MCA Stadium, since Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium faces uncertainty due to the RCA’s failure to hold elections, which complicates the smooth hosting of matches, despite ongoing efforts to retain Jaipur as the venue.

Consequently, the Indian cricketing board is waiting for RCB and RR to finalize their venues before determining the IPL schedule.