Cricket

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are set to reignite their rivalry in a highly anticipated one-day international (ODI) series, with both teams eager to prove their dominance in the 50-over format. The series kicks off on Wednesday in Chittagong, and the atmosphere is already electric.The current tour has been marked by a simmering rivalry between the two sides, stemming from the controversial timed-out dismissal of Sri Lankan batsman Angelo Mathews during their World Cup clash last year. Mathews became the first player in international cricket history to be dismissed in this manner, and the incident has continued to cast a shadow over the relationship between the teams.Sri Lanka reignited the controversy after winning the Twenty20 series on Saturday, prompting Bangladesh to accuse their opponents of dwelling on the past. However, Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood insists that the rivalry is healthy and will only add to the intensity of the upcoming ODI series."The rivalry is obviously great. I think we need good competition," Silverwood said. "We're going to play some competitive cricket. I expect exactly the same again... And obviously both teams will be looking for the same, I should imagine."Bangladesh has traditionally been a formidable force in ODI cricket, boasting an impressive home record. However, they have suffered a dip in form in recent times, losing to both England and Afghanistan in 2023. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is confident that his team can bounce back against Sri Lanka."We played very good cricket from 2015 to 2022. So it can be a bad year. But it's important to bounce back as a team and come back well this year," Shanto said.The second and third matches of the series will be held on March 15 and 18, and both teams will be determined to secure victory. The series promises to be a thrilling contest between two evenly matched sides, with the added spice of the ongoing rivalry between them.

Bangladesh, led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, opted to bowl first in the third and decisive ODI against Sri Lanka at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. The decision mirrored Shanto's choices in the previous two matches, which resulted in a 1-1 series tie.Sri Lanka's captain, Wanindu Hasaranga, who returned from a two-match suspension, echoed Shanto's decision, stating that he would have also chosen to bowl first if he had won the toss.The Bangladesh team remained unchanged, while Sri Lanka made three alterations to their lineup. Avishka Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana, and Dilshan Madushanka were replaced by Hasaranga, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Nuwan Thushara.The series is evenly poised at 1-1, making the third match crucial for both teams. Bangladesh's batting lineup features Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Soumya Sarkar, Towhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Mahedi Hasan, Jaker Ali, Taskin Ahmed, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shoriful Islam.Sri Lanka's batting order includes Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando, and Nuwan Thusara.The match promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams eager to secure the series victory.

Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ireland's Harry Tector engaged in a thrilling batting duel in Sharjah, with Gurbaz's century ultimately leading Afghanistan to a 35-run victory in the first ODI of the three-match series.Gurbaz, known for his aggressive batting, smashed 121 runs off 117 deliveries, including eight fours and six sixes. His innings formed the backbone of Afghanistan's impressive total of 310 for 5. Ibrahim Zadran provided solid support with a 60-run contribution, while captain Hashmatullah Shahidi chipped in with a half-century.Ireland's chase got off to a shaky start as they lost three wickets in the powerplay, including captain Paul Stirling. However, Tector and Tucker steadied the innings with a 173-run partnership. Tector, in particular, played a magnificent knock, scoring 138 runs off 147 balls.Afghanistan's left-arm quick Fazalhaq Farooqi proved to be the game-changer, dismissing Tucker and Andy Balbirnie in quick succession. This triggered a collapse as Ireland lost four wickets for just 42 runs. Tector fought valiantly but was eventually dismissed in the final over, leaving Ireland 35 runs short of their target.Farooqi finished with impressive figures of 4 for 51, while George Dockrell and Theo van Woerkom picked up three wickets each for Ireland.

Noor Ali Zadran, a veteran Afghanistan batter, has bid farewell to international cricket after a distinguished career spanning two Tests, 51 ODIs, and 23 T20Is. His journey began in 2009, and his final appearance was in the one-off Test against Ireland earlier this month.Zadran's ODI career saw him amass 1216 runs at an average of 24.81, while in T20Is, he accumulated 597 runs at an average of 27.13. His Test debut came against Sri Lanka in Colombo in February 2023, followed by the Ireland Test in Abu Dhabi, where he scored a total of 117 runs across four innings.After a brief hiatus, Zadran was recalled to the Afghanistan side for the T20Is at the Asian Games in October 2023. He played a pivotal role in Afghanistan's victories over Sri Lanka and Pakistan, scoring 51 and 39 respectively. The final against India ended in a no-result due to rain, with India claiming the gold medal as the higher-ranked team.Zadran's international debut came in Afghanistan's first official ODI against Scotland in April 2009, where he opened the batting and scored a quickfire 45 off 28 balls. His T20I debut followed in February 2010, in Afghanistan's second game in the format.One of Zadran's career highlights was his half-century against India at the T20 World Cup in 2010, Afghanistan's maiden World Cup appearance. He also played a crucial role in Afghanistan's victory over Zimbabwe in the first round of the T20 World Cup in 2016.Zadran's retirement marks the end of an era for Afghanistan cricket. He has been a consistent performer for his country, contributing significantly to their rise in international cricket. His experience and leadership will be missed by the team.

New Zealand's women's cricket team has announced its squad for the upcoming five-match T20I and three-match ODI series against England at home. The squad features the return of seamer Rosemary Mair and batter Brooke Halliday, who missed the recent series against Pakistan due to injury.Mair, who last played for New Zealand in August 2022, has been rewarded for her impressive performances in the Super Smash, New Zealand's domestic T20 tournament. She was the fourth-highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps, including a memorable 4 for 5 in the final.Halliday, who has been out with a foot injury, made a successful return to action in the Super Smash, scoring 108 in a List A game against Canterbury. Her inclusion in the squad is a boost for New Zealand, as she is a key member of the batting lineup.Offspinner Leigh Kasperek has also been included in the squad for the last two T20Is. Kasperek played a crucial role in Wellington's Super Smash triumph, picking up 17 wickets at an economy of 5.38.The tour will begin with two warm-up T20s in Queenstown on March 10 and 12, followed by the first T20I in Dunedin on March 19. Three standby players will be named closer to the series to cover for Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine, or Lea Tahuhu, who are currently playing in the Women's Premier League in India.New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer expressed his satisfaction with the squad selection, particularly highlighting Mair's progress and Kasperek's consistency. He also noted that Georgia Plimmer will only be available for the ODIs, while Eden Carson will play in the first three T20Is and also feature for New Zealand A in the corresponding series against England A.