Cricket

India and Pakistan Set for Clash in Inaugural Women's U19 Asia CupThe Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has announced the draw for the inaugural Women's U19 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in Malaysia from December 15 to 22. The tournament will feature six teams divided into two groups of three.Group A consists of arch-rivals India, Pakistan, and Nepal, while Group B includes Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and hosts Malaysia. All matches will be played at the Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur.The tournament will kick off on December 15 with Malaysia facing Sri Lanka in the opening game. Later that day, India and Pakistan will lock horns in a highly anticipated clash.The following day, Sri Lanka will take on Bangladesh, followed by Pakistan facing Nepal. The final group-stage fixtures will be held on December 17, with Bangladesh taking on Malaysia and India facing Nepal.The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Four round, scheduled for December 19 and 20. The third-placed teams from both groups will compete in a fifth/sixth-place play-off on December 18.The top two teams from the Super Four will qualify for the final, which will be played on December 22.The Women's U19 Asia Cup is a significant event for women's cricket in the region. It provides a platform for young players to showcase their skills and gain valuable international experience. The tournament is also expected to generate excitement and enthusiasm among fans, particularly in India and Pakistan.

The ICC Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup 2025 is set to ignite the global cricket stage from January 18 to February 2 in Malaysia. Defending champions India will embark on their title defense alongside West Indies, Sri Lanka, and hosts Malaysia in Group A.The tournament will feature 16 teams, including first-time participants Samoa, who will compete in Group C alongside New Zealand, South Africa, and an Africa qualifier. Group B boasts England, Pakistan, Ireland, and USA, while Group D comprises Australia, Bangladesh, Scotland, and an Asia qualifier.The event will showcase the future stars of women's cricket across four venues in Malaysia. Bayuemas Oval in Selangor will host the Group A games and the final, while the Dato' Dr. Harjit Singh Johor Cricket Academy (JCA Oval) in Johor will host Group B. Sarawak's Borneo Cricket Ground will be the venue for Group C fixtures, and the UKM YSD Oval in Selangor will host Group D matches.The tournament will kick off with a triple-header on January 18, featuring Australia vs. Scotland, England vs. Ireland, and Samoa vs. the Africa qualifier. India will begin their campaign on January 19 against West Indies.ICC CEO Geoff Allardice emphasized the significance of the event in promoting women's cricket globally. "This is a special event to the ICC and forms an important part of our Global Growth Strategy of raising the profile of women's cricket and further growing the game around the world," he said.Host tournament director Dinesh Muthuraman expressed Malaysia's pride in hosting the event. "Malaysia is proud to host the ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup in 2025, continuing our tradition of supporting the growth of cricket on the global stage," he said.The tournament was originally scheduled to be co-hosted by Thailand, but their withdrawal resulted in Malaysia hosting all games. Malaysia previously hosted the Men's Under-19 World Cup in 2008, which featured future stars like Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson.

Hosts Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have secured their spots in the semifinals of the Women's Asia Cup T20 tournament after dominant victories over Thailand and Malaysia, respectively.In the first match of the day, Bangladesh showcased their batting prowess with opener Murshida Khatun leading the charge with a blistering 80 off 59 deliveries. Skipper Nigar Sultana also contributed a valuable 62 off 37 balls, helping Bangladesh post a formidable total of 191 for 2.Malaysia's chase faltered as they were restricted to a mere 77 for 8 in 20 overs, handing Bangladesh a convincing victory.In the second match, Sri Lanka proved equally dominant, dismissing Thailand for a paltry 93 for 7. Wicket-keeper batter Nannapat Koncharoenkai top-scored for Thailand with a 47 off 53 balls.Sri Lanka's chase was a breeze, with skipper Chamari Athapaththu (49 not out) and Vishmi Gunaratne (39) guiding their team to a comfortable 10-wicket victory.In the semifinals, defending champions India will face Bangladesh, while Sri Lanka will take on Pakistan on Friday.

Bangladesh, seeking to advance to the semi-finals of the Asia Cup 2024, elected to bat first after winning the toss against Malaysia. The decision came after Bangladesh's opening game loss to Sri Lanka and subsequent seven-wicket victory over Thailand.Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana expressed her team's desire to establish a strong total on the board, given the favorable batting conditions. The team made one change, bringing in experienced all-rounder Jahanara Alam in place of Marufa Akter.Malaysia, despite losing both their previous matches, still harbored hopes of reaching the semi-finals. However, they were forced to chase after Bangladesh's decision to bat. Malaysia made two changes to their lineup, introducing Nur Aishah and Irdina Beh Nabil while omitting Dhanusri Muhunan and Amalin Sorfina.For Malaysia to qualify for the semi-finals, they must defeat Bangladesh by a significant margin and rely on Sri Lanka to do the same against Thailand.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh showcased their dominance in the Women's Asia Cup T20 tournament on Monday, securing emphatic victories over Malaysia and Thailand respectively.Sri Lanka, the host nation, unleashed a batting masterclass against Malaysia. Chamari Athapaththu led the charge with an extraordinary 119 not out off 69 deliveries, peppered with 14 boundaries and seven towering sixes. Her innings propelled Sri Lanka to a formidable total of 184 for 4. Harshitha Madavi and Anushka Sanjeewani provided valuable support with contributions of 26 and 31 runs.Malaysia's batting lineup crumbled under the pressure of Sri Lanka's bowling attack. Shashini Gimhani, Kawya Kavindi, and Kavisha Dilhari combined to dismantle the Malaysian innings, claiming three, two, and two wickets respectively. Malaysia was bundled out for a mere 40 runs in just 19.5 overs, with only Elsa Hunter reaching double figures.In the second match of the day, Bangladesh outplayed Thailand by seven wickets. Thailand's batting struggled to gain momentum, managing only 96 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. Nattaya Boochatham's 40 off 41 balls was the lone bright spot for Thailand.Bangladesh's bowlers were in top form, with Rabeya Khan leading the charge with four wickets for 14 runs. Sabikun Nahar and Ritu Moni chipped in with two wickets each.Chasing a modest target of 97, Bangladesh cruised to victory in 17.3 overs. Murshida Khatun anchored the innings with a patient 50 off 55 balls. Dilara Akter and Ishma Tanjim provided support with contributions of 17 and 16 runs respectively.With these victories, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have emerged as the frontrunners in Group B, each with four points. They are well-positioned to secure semifinal berths as the tournament progresses.

Sri Lanka's women's cricket team, led by Chamari Athapaththu, has opted to bat first in their crucial Asia Cup semi-final clash against Malaysia. The match holds immense significance for both teams, with Sri Lanka aiming to secure a spot in the final and Malaysia seeking their first win of the tournament.Sri Lanka has made significant changes to their lineup, introducing four new players to the XI that defeated Bangladesh in their previous match. Sugandika Kumari, Udeshika Prabodhani, and Achini Kulasuriya have been replaced by Ama Kanchana, Inoshi Priyadharshani, and Sachini Nisansala in the bowling department. Kawya Kavindi has also been included in the batting lineup, replacing Hasini Perera.Malaysia, on the other hand, has made a single change, handing a debut to 16-year-old Nur Izzatul Syafiqa in place of Jamahidiya Intan. The Malaysian team is under immense pressure to win this match after suffering a convincing defeat to Thailand in their opening fixture.The Sri Lankan team boasts a strong batting lineup, with Chamari Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama, and Kavisha Dilhari being key players to watch. Their bowling attack, led by Ama Kanchana and Inoshi Priyadharshani, will be crucial in containing the Malaysian batters.Malaysia will rely heavily on their captain, Winifred Duraisingam, and wicket-keeper Wan Julia for runs. Their bowling attack, featuring Elsa Hunter and Mahirah Izzati Ismail, will need to step up and restrict the Sri Lankan batters.The match promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams eager to secure a place in the final. Sri Lanka will be the favorites, but Malaysia will be determined to cause an upset and make history.