Cricket

Sanjay Bangar, former India cricketer and batting coach, has expressed his disappointment over the decision to appoint Suryakumar Yadav as India's T20I captain for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, instead of Hardik Pandya. Bangar believes that Pandya, who played a crucial role in India's recent T20 successes, has been unfairly overlooked.Bangar expressed surprise that Pandya was not given the captaincy, considering his strong leadership record. Pandya has led the Indian team to 10 victories in 16 T20Is, while Yadav has captained Team India in seven T20Is, winning five of them."I am a bit surprised as far as Hardik not being the captain of the T20 team is concerned because even before the previous T20 World Cup it seemed like if Rohit hadn't become the captain and Hardik hadn't gotten injured at that time, Hardik only would have become the captain," Bangar said on Star Sports.Bangar acknowledged that Yadav has a lot of experience and has led Mumbai in domestic cricket, but he still feels that Pandya has been treated unfairly. "I fully believe that he [Yadav] will do a good job, but I still feel a little injustice has been meted out to Hardik," Bangar said.While acknowledging that selectors and coach Gautam Gambhir might have explained their reasons to Pandya, Bangar opined that the all-rounder would still feel hurt by the decision. "As a player, you are always understanding what the selectors are trying to do, what the new coach is trying to do but deep within himself, I am pretty sure that Hardik will be deeply hurt that he is not being considered for T20 captaincy," Bangar stated.

Bangladesh, the only team besides India to have won the Women's Asia Cup, kicked off their campaign against hosts Sri Lanka in Dambulla. Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana opted to bat first after winning the toss, citing favorable batting conditions."The ball is coming on to the bat nicely, and we want to put a score on the board," Sultana said. "We make this tournament equally important as the T20 World Cup."Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, while not disappointed with the decision to bowl first, acknowledged the good batting surface. "We don't want to take too much pressure, one match at a time," she said.The Dambulla pitch has been conducive to batting in the previous three matches played on it. However, the long square boundaries emphasize the importance of quick running between the wickets.Bangladesh, coming off a 0-5 sweep against India at home, will be eager to break their winless streak in T20Is in 2024. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has enjoyed a successful year in the format, winning nine of their 12 matches, including a 2-1 series victory over South Africa.Sri Lanka's batting lineup has become more balanced, with Vishmi Gunaratne and Kavisha Dilhari emerging as reliable contributors alongside Athapaththu.

Smriti Mandhana's Heartwarming Gesture for Specially Abled Sri Lankan FanDuring the Women's Asia Cup in Dambulla, Team India star opener Smriti Mandhana brought joy to a specially abled Sri Lankan fan named Adeesha Herath. After India's triumph in their opening match against Pakistan, Mandhana took time out to interact with Herath and presented her with a mobile phone.The heartwarming moment was captured on camera and shared on social media by Sri Lanka Cricket. In the video, Mandhana can be seen posing for photographs with Herath and engaging in a friendly conversation.Mandhana's gesture was met with praise from fans and fellow cricketers alike. It highlighted the importance of inclusivity and the power of sports to bring people together.On the field, India dominated their opening match against Pakistan. After restricting their opponents to a modest 108, India chased down the target with ease, winning by seven wickets with 35 balls to spare.Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana led the charge for India, scoring 40 and 45 runs respectively. The victory sets the stage for India's next match against the United Arab Emirates on July 21.

Suryakumar Yadav's appointment as India's T20I captain for the Sri Lanka tour has sparked debate, with former batsman Mohammad Kaif expressing his belief that Hardik Pandya should have retained the role.Kaif, in an interview with IANS, argued that Pandya's experience as T20I captain and his successful stint leading the Gujarat Titans in the IPL made him the ideal choice. "Hardik has captained the Gujarat Titans for two years and in their first year itself, they made it to the final... Hardik has experience captaining the T20I side. He was also the vice-captain at the T20 World Cup," Kaif said.Kaif also questioned the decision to appoint Shubman Gill as vice-captain, replacing Pandya. "Gambhir is an experienced captain and coach...He understands cricket very well. I think 'Hardik ne aisa koi galat kaam nhi kia k unko captaincy na mile' (Hardik has not done anything wrong that he should not get the captaincy)," Kaif added.Pandya led India in 16 T20Is before suffering an injury during the ODI World Cup last year. He also guided the Gujarat Titans to the IPL title in 2022 and the runners-up spot in 2023.Kaif believes Pandya's experience and success in both the IPL and international cricket made him the most suitable candidate for the T20I captaincy. "He has experience, has captained in the IPL; and leading a new team (Gujarat Titans) to trophy, with fresh and young faces, is a huge thing. He has made the Titans win by working from zero in the IPL...I think he was entitled to the captaincy," he said.Despite Kaif's reservations, Suryakumar Yadav remains a highly respected and experienced player. He is currently ranked as the world's No. 1 T20I batsman and has been a key member of India's T20I team for several years. It remains to be seen whether he can lead India to success in the upcoming Sri Lanka tour and beyond.

New Zealand's 2024-25 home season promises an exciting array of international cricket, with tours from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Australia confirmed. The schedule features six ODIs and eight T20Is for the men's team, while the women will play six ODIs and six T20Is.The highlight of the season will be the three-Test series against England, which will conclude a busy summer of nine Tests for New Zealand. The Tests will be followed by a T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka in late December and mid-January.After the Sri Lanka tour, the men's team will head to Pakistan for an ODI tri-series in preparation for the Champions Trophy. They will then host Pakistan for five T20Is and three ODIs in late March and early April, which may overlap with the IPL.The women's team will host Australia for three ODIs in December, followed by three T20Is in March. Sri Lanka's women will also tour New Zealand in March for a six-match series.Five of the women's T20Is will be played as double-headers with the men's T20I series against Pakistan.

Arjuna Ranatunga's Remarkable Body Transformation Stuns Social MediaFormer Sri Lankan cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga has left the internet in disbelief after a recent picture of him alongside Indian legend Kapil Dev went viral. The image showcases a striking transformation in Ranatunga's physique, leaving many questioning if it is indeed the same man who led Sri Lanka to their historic World Cup victory in 1996.Ranatunga, now 59, was known for his aggressive batting and astute leadership during his playing days. After retiring from cricket, he ventured into politics and served as a Member of Parliament in Sri Lanka.The recent picture, shared on Twitter by journalist Rex Clementine, has sparked a flurry of reactions. Many users expressed shock and disbelief at Ranatunga's transformation, with some even questioning if it was a case of mistaken identity."People are saying the man next to Kapil is Arjuna Ranatunga. I've watched many of his matches, I'm not ready to believe it's him," tweeted one user.Another user shared a comparison image of Ranatunga from his playing days and the recent picture, highlighting the dramatic change in his appearance. "How can those 2 be the same people?!" they exclaimed.While the exact reason for Ranatunga's transformation is unknown, some speculate that it may be related to a change in lifestyle or fitness regimen. Regardless, the image has reignited interest in the legendary cricketer and his remarkable journey.

Hardik Pandya has been appointed as the captain of the Indian cricket team for the upcoming three-match T20 International series against Sri Lanka, commencing on July 27. However, Pandya will not participate in the subsequent ODI series in August due to personal reasons.According to sources, Pandya has already informed regular skipper Rohit Sharma of his decision. Sharma is also taking a break from the series. An official confirmed Pandya's decision, emphasizing that his absence from the ODIs is solely due to personal reasons and not related to any fitness issues.With Pandya unavailable for the ODIs, the leadership role could be assigned to either KL Rahul or Shubman Gill. Rahul previously led India in the ODI series in South Africa, while Gill recently captained the team to a 4-1 series victory over Zimbabwe.A senior BCCI source stated, "Hardik Pandya was India's T20 vice-captain under Rohit Sharma. He is completely fit and available for the three-match T20I series and will lead the side."Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20 Internationals after the World Cup. The T20Is against Sri Lanka will be played from July 27 to 30 in Pallekele, while the ODIs are scheduled from August 2 to 7 in Colombo.The squad for the series is expected to be announced shortly. This series marks the beginning of the Gautam Gambhir era in Indian cricket, with the new head coach's input expected to influence the team's leadership and composition.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced an updated schedule for the Indian cricket team's upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. The revised itinerary has shifted the matches by a single day, with the tour now commencing on July 27, a day later than the originally planned start date of July 26.India will be playing three T20 Internationals and three ODIs across July to August. The T20Is will be held at Pallekele on July 27, 28, and 30, while the ODIs will be played at Colombo on August 2, 4, and 7.The Indian team, under new head coach Gautam Gambhir, will begin the series with the T20Is at Pallekele. The one-dayers will be played in Colombo.The BCCI has not yet announced the Indian team for the upcoming tour, but it is anticipated that experienced players such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be given a break for the ODI leg. It is likely that Hardik Pandya will captain the T20I team, while KL Rahul may be appointed as the ODI captain.Gambhir, who recently took over from Rahul Dravid as head coach, will be in charge during the tour. Dravid, who guided India to their second T20 World Cup victory in the Americas, has passed the baton to Gambhir.Sri Lanka will also have a new coach in Sanath Jayasuriya, who replaces Chris Silverwood. Furthermore, following Wanindu Hasaranga's resignation on Thursday, Sri Lanka will be led by a new captain. Sri Lanka have not yet announced the name of their new captain, who will be tasked with leading the team in the upcoming bilateral series against India.The upcoming tour of Sri Lanka will be a crucial test for the Indian team under new head coach Gautam Gambhir. The team will be looking to build on their recent success in the T20 World Cup and continue their dominance in the ODI format. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will be looking to make a statement under their new coach and captain. The series promises to be an exciting and competitive one, with both teams eager to prove their mettle.

Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke has been appointed as the brand ambassador for the upcoming Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024. The tournament will be held from July 1 to 21, featuring five franchises competing across three iconic venues in Colombo, Dambulla, and Kandy.Clarke, a legendary cricketer with an illustrious international career, expressed his excitement about returning to Sri Lanka for the LPL. "It's an honor to be in Sri Lanka for the LPL," he said. "I have very fond memories here, as one of my first Australian tours was an Under-19 World Cup in this country."The 43-year-old Clarke believes that the LPL will play a crucial role in developing Sri Lankan cricket. "This tournament is very important as it will help grow Sri Lankan cricket as well," he said. "I'm excited to see some young faces who can be the face of Sri Lankan cricket in the coming time."Clarke joins a prestigious list of LPL brand ambassadors, including cricket icons Vivian Richards, Wasim Akram, and Sanath Jayasuriya. His appointment is expected to further enhance the tournament's profile and attract global attention.The LPL 2024 will feature a total of 24 matches, with each franchise playing each other twice in the league stage. The top four teams will advance to the playoffs, culminating in the final on July 21.The tournament is expected to showcase some of the best cricketing talent from Sri Lanka and around the world. It will provide a platform for young players to showcase their skills and gain valuable experience.