Cricket

New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, have opted to bat first in the third and final ODI against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. The Black Caps are looking to avoid a series sweep after losing the first two matches.Sri Lanka, who have already secured the series win, have made five changes to their lineup. Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, and Asitha Fernando have all been dropped, while Nishan Madushka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Mohamed Shiraz, and Chamindu Wickramasinghe have been brought in.New Zealand have also made two changes, with Zakary Foulkes and Adam Milne replacing Nathan Smith and Jacob Duffy. Foulkes, who impressed in the T20 leg of the tour, will make his ODI debut.The weather forecast in Pallekele is not ideal, with rain expected at some point. However, conditions are currently hot and humid. The pitch is a new one and has more grass on it than the first two ODIs, which should favor the batters.Sri Lanka:1. Nishan Madushka2. Avishka Fernando3. Nuwanidu Fernando4. Sadeera Samarawickrama5. Charith Asalanka (capt.)6. Janith Liyanage7. Chamindu Wickramasinghe8. Maheesh Theekshana9. Jeffrey Vandersay10. Dilshan Madushanka11. Mohamed ShirazNew Zealand:1. Tim Robinson2. Will Young3. Henry Nicholls4. Mark Chapman5. Glenn Phillips6. Mitchell Hay (wk)7. Michael Bracewell8. Mitchell Santner (capt.)9. Zakary Foulkes10. Ish Sodhi11. Adam Milne

Sri Lanka's spin-bowling all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand due to a left hamstring injury sustained during the second T20I on Sunday. Hasaranga, who has been Sri Lanka's most successful bowler in the T20I series, will be replaced by Dushan Hemantha, another legspin-bowling allrounder.Hasaranga's absence is a significant blow to Sri Lanka, as he has been in excellent form in recent matches. In the first T20I, he took 2 for 20 and scored an important 22 off 23 balls. In the second T20I, he took 4 for 17, including the wickets of New Zealand's top three batsmen.Sri Lanka already had another legspinner in the squad in Jeffrey Vandersay, but Hasaranga's absence will leave a big hole in the team's bowling attack. Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage are the other frontline spinners in the squad.Hasaranga becomes the second player to be ruled out of the series due to injuries sustained in the second T20I. New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is also unavailable due to a calf injury.The ODI series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand begins on Wednesday, with the first match to be played in Dambulla. The remaining two games will be played in Pallekele.

Pakistan's historic ODI series triumph in Australia, their first in 22 years, was a testament to their resilience and determination. The team's 2-1 victory in the three-match series was sealed with an emphatic eight-wicket win in the decider at Perth.Pakistan's coach, Jason Gillespie, expressed his delight with the team's performance but also raised concerns about the lack of promotion for the ODI series in Australia. "I saw no promotion of our one-day series by Cricket Australia," Gillespie said. "It's pretty obvious that they're prioritizing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series against India."Gillespie acknowledged that Australia's decision to rest key players for the series, including Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne, gave Pakistan an advantage. "We knew that there was probably going to be some change," he said. "We anticipated that, and that's the nature of modern cricket."Despite the lack of promotion and the absence of Australia's top players, Pakistan played with unwavering determination. They bowled out Australia for a paltry 140 in the decider, with Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf sharing seven wickets between them. Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq then led Pakistan's chase with half-centuries, guiding the team to victory with eight wickets in hand.Gillespie praised his team's performance, saying, "It was pleasing not just to beat Australia but beat them pretty convincingly. The reality is we should have won the first game as well."Pakistan's ODI series win in Australia is a significant achievement for the team and a testament to their growing strength in the format. It also highlights the need for greater promotion and recognition of ODI cricket in Australia.

Afghanistan's relentless pursuit of victory culminated in a thrilling five-wicket triumph over Bangladesh in the third and decisive ODI in Sharjah, securing a 2-1 series win. Opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz's scintillating century and Azmatullah Omarzai's all-around brilliance proved pivotal in the Afghans' triumph.Gurbaz, known for his explosive batting, unleashed a masterful 120-ball 101, adorned with seven towering sixes and five boundaries. His innings laid the foundation for Afghanistan's successful chase of 245. Omarzai, who had earlier impressed with a four-wicket haul, complemented Gurbaz's heroics with a solid 77-ball 70.Bangladesh, batting first, had posted a competitive 244 for 8, thanks to Mohammad Mahmudullah's valiant 98 and Mehidy Hasan Miraz's steady 66. However, Afghanistan's bowlers, led by Omarzai, kept the Bangladeshi batsmen in check, restricting them to a manageable total.The Afghan chase got off to a shaky start, with Bangladesh pacers Mustafizur Rahman and Nahid Rana reducing them to 84 for 3. But Gurbaz and Omarzai steadied the ship with a crucial 100-run partnership for the fourth wicket.Gurbaz's dismissal in the 39th over left Afghanistan needing 61 runs to win. Omarzai, however, continued his onslaught, forging a vital 58-run partnership with Mohammad Nabi (34 off 27 balls). Omarzai sealed the victory in style, hitting the winning six.Afghanistan's skipper, Hashmatullah Shahidi, expressed his delight at the team's performance, particularly the contributions of Gurbaz and Omarzai. Miraz, on the other hand, acknowledged Afghanistan's dominance in the series.

Pakistan's historic ODI series victory over Australia has sparked jubilation among cricket enthusiasts, with former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar lauding the team's young guns. After 22 years, Pakistan emerged victorious on Australian soil, winning the final ODI encounter by 8 wickets and clinching the three-match series 2-1.Akhtar hailed the impressive performances of fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah, recalling his own experiences during Pakistan's last ODI series win in Australia in 2002. "Outstanding win. After 22 years, we won against Australia. In 2002, I remember I was there. We had won a series in Gabba, and it took us 22 years for the players to win the series. And they did an amazing job. They played really well. There was an attitude change. Rizwan changed the attitude. Naseem, Haris, Shaheen. All of them played really well and at the same time they did a comprehensively good job," Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan echoed Akhtar's sentiments, praising the bowlers for their exceptional performance. "Special moment for me, the nation will be very happy today, we didn't perform as per expectations in the last couple of years. I'm the captain only for the toss and presentations - everyone gives me suggestions on the field, the batting group and the bowling group," Rizwan said in the post-match presentation.Chasing a modest target of 141, Pakistan's openers, Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique, provided a solid foundation with an 84-run partnership. Rizwan and Babar Azam then guided the team to victory with an unbroken 58-run stand.Earlier, Australia's batting lineup faltered, with Sean Abbott emerging as the top scorer with 30 runs. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah claimed three wickets each, while Haris Rauf chipped in with two scalps.Rizwan dedicated the victory to the Pakistani fans, acknowledging their unwavering support despite recent setbacks. "All the credit to the bowlers, Australia in Australia isn't easy, the conditions suit their style of playing, but the bowlers were outstanding. Also credit to the two openers, they made the chases easy. They (fans) don't care a lot about the results, but the people back home are always behind us and I want to dedicate this victory to them," the wicketkeeper-batter added.Pakistan's historic ODI series win over Australia marks a significant milestone in the team's cricketing journey. The young players have demonstrated their potential and determination, and the future looks bright for Pakistan cricket.

Mohammad Rizwan, the newly appointed captain of the Pakistan cricket team, has downplayed his role, stating that he is merely responsible for "toss and presentations." Despite his modest assessment, Rizwan has led Pakistan to a historic ODI series victory over Australia, marking their first such triumph in Australia in 22 years.In the post-match press conference, Rizwan emphasized the collective effort behind Pakistan's success. "I'm the captain only for the toss and presentations - everyone gives me suggestions on the field, the batting group and the bowling group," he said.Rizwan praised the bowlers for their exceptional performance, particularly in the challenging conditions of Australia. "Australia in Australia isn't easy, the conditions suit their style of playing, but the bowlers were outstanding," he remarked.The veteran cricketer also acknowledged the contributions of the openers, Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique, who set the tone for the chase with their solid starts. "Credit to the two openers, they made the chases easy," Rizwan said.Despite the team's recent struggles, Rizwan expressed his gratitude for the unwavering support of the Pakistani people. "I don't care a lot about the press, but the people back home are always behind us and I want to dedicate this victory to them," he added.Pakistan's victory was a testament to their resilience and determination. After losing the opening match in Melbourne, they bounced back with an emphatic win in Adelaide and sealed the series with a dominant performance in Perth.The series triumph is a significant achievement for Pakistan, who have struggled to find consistency in recent years. It will undoubtedly boost their confidence as they prepare for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup in India later this year.

Pakistan's historic ODI series victory against Australia in Perth marked a significant milestone for the team. The 2-1 series triumph was Pakistan's first ODI series win on Australian soil since 2002.Australia, prioritizing their upcoming Test series against India, fielded a less experienced lineup. Pakistan, opting to field first, capitalized on this opportunity. Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah led the pace attack, claiming three wickets each. Haris Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain also contributed with crucial wickets, bowling Australia out for a mere 140 runs.Pakistan's chase was clinical and controlled. Openers Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique laid the foundation with an 84-run partnership. Despite Lance Morris's brief resistance, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam guided Pakistan to a comfortable victory, reaching the target with eight wickets in hand.This dominant performance serves as a confidence booster for Pakistan ahead of their upcoming T20 series against Australia. The team's impressive pace attack and solid batting lineup have set the stage for an exciting series.

India's women's cricket team commenced their three-match ODI series against New Zealand with a resounding 59-run victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.Chasing a modest target of 228, New Zealand's batting lineup crumbled under the pressure of India's bowling attack. Radha Yadav emerged as the star performer, claiming three crucial wickets for just 35 runs. Debutant pacer Saima Thakor also made an immediate impact, dismissing New Zealand opener Suzie Bates with her third delivery.New Zealand's innings was plagued by a series of unfortunate dismissals. Skipper Sophie Devine was caught short of her crease, while Brooke Halliday and Maddy Green's promising partnership was broken by Thakor. Despite a brief fightback, New Zealand's batting order failed to recover, eventually folding for 168 runs.Earlier, India had posted a total of 227 after opting to bat first. The Kerr sisters, Amelia and Jess, led the New Zealand bowling attack with four and three wickets respectively. India's batters struggled to convert their starts into substantial scores, with Deepti Sharma (41), Tejal Hasabnis (42), Shafali Verma (33), Yastika (37), and Jemimah Rodrigues (35) all failing to capitalize on their promising starts.Despite their batting struggles, India's bowlers stepped up to the challenge. Yadav's three wickets and Thakor's early strike proved decisive, while Deepti Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad also contributed with two wickets each.The victory marks a positive start for India in the ODI series. They will look to continue their winning ways in the remaining two matches, scheduled for February 12 and 15.

Afghanistan has bolstered its squad for the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh with the inclusion of opening batter Sediqullah Atal and left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad. The 19-man squad will face Bangladesh in three ODIs from November 6 to 11 in Sharjah.Atal, who has six T20I caps, has been in impressive form at the Emerging Teams Asia Cup T20 tournament, scoring 52, 95 not out, and 83. Noor, on the other hand, returns to the squad after a stellar performance in the Caribbean Premier League, where he was named Player of the Series for his 22 wickets for the St Lucia Kings.Afghanistan Cricket Board chief selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil explained the squad changes: "Ibrahim Zadran is currently undergoing rehabilitation and continues to recover from the surgery he recently had. Mujeeb Ur Rahman also remains unavailable due to ongoing treatment.""However, Noor Ahmad is back in the squad, and we have included a promising top-order batter in Sediqullah Atal, who has impressed everyone with his consistent top performances."Afghanistan will use the Bangladesh series as part of its preparation for the Champions Trophy in February 2025. In their previous assignment, the three ODIs against South Africa, Afghanistan created history with their first series win against an opposition ranked in the top five of the ICC rankings.