Cricket

Rocky Flintoff, the 16-year-old son of former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, has been selected for the England Under-19 squad for their upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. Despite his young age, Flintoff has impressed for Lancashire 2nd XI this season, making his debut two days after his 16th birthday and scoring a maiden century in April.The U19 squad boasts several other family connections. Essex all-rounder Luc Benkenstein, son of former South Africa batter and current Lancashire head coach Dale Benkenstein, will captain the team. Offspinner Farhan Ahmed, younger brother of England international Rehan Ahmed, has also been included after signing his first professional contract with Nottinghamshire. Durham wicketkeeper Haydon Mustard, whose father Phil earned 12 white-ball caps with England, and Somerset's Thomas Rew, another keeper-batter and the younger brother of the highly touted James Rew, have also been selected.Nine players from the squad represented England at the U19 World Cup in South Africa earlier this year, where they finished sixth overall. However, Ben McKinney, who captained the team at the World Cup, and Hamza Shaikh were not considered for selection as they are likely to play for a County Select XI against West Indies in a three-day match.England Men Under-19s coach Mike Yardy expressed excitement about the squad, saying, "We have selected an exciting squad for the series, with a blend of some players who are currently playing in the Vitality Blast and some younger players for whom it will be their first time in an Under-19s squad."The squad for the two-match Youth Test series with Sri Lanka will be announced later this month.

Australia, the tournament favorites, will face Namibia in a crucial Group B clash of the T20 World Cup on June 12. The Aussies, who have won their first two matches, are aiming to secure a Super Eight berth with a victory.Australia's batting lineup has been in top form, with David Warner leading the charge. Warner, who is playing his last World Cup for Australia, has scored 97 runs in the tournament at a strike rate of 141.79. Travis Head has also been impressive, providing explosive starts alongside Warner.Namibia, on the other hand, will need their veteran all-rounder David Wiese to step up. Wiese, who has faced Australia four times in T20Is, will be crucial to Namibia's chances of an upset. Left-arm spinner Bernard Scholtz, who has been economical in the tournament, will also be a key player for Namibia.In their only previous T20 meeting, Australia defeated Namibia by seven wickets in a warm-up game two weeks ago. However, Namibia will be hoping to put up a better fight this time around.The match will be a must-win for Sri Lanka, who have lost their first two matches in Group D. The former champions will face Nepal, who lost their only match so far. A win for Sri Lanka will keep their hopes of reaching the Super Eight alive, while a loss would effectively end their campaign.Sri Lanka's batting has been a major concern, with the team struggling to score runs. Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka have been the only consistent performers, but the rest of the lineup has failed to deliver.Nepal, on the other hand, will be looking to cause an upset. The team has some talented players, including Rohit Paudel and Kushal Bhurtel, who can be dangerous on their day.The match between Sri Lanka and Nepal is a must-win for both teams, and it promises to be a close and exciting contest.

Nepal vs Sri Lanka: A Clash of Contrasting FortunesIn the heart of Lauderhill, Florida, Nepal and Sri Lanka will face off in a crucial T20 World Cup 2024 encounter. While Sri Lanka desperately seeks a lifeline to the Super 8s, Nepal aims to create history against a formidable opponent.Sri Lanka's Redemption QuestAfter two consecutive defeats, Sri Lanka's hopes of qualifying for the next round hang precariously. Only outright victories against Nepal and Netherlands will suffice, coupled with favorable results from other matches. The drop-in pitches in Lauderhill, with their more seasoned surfaces, offer a glimmer of hope for Sri Lanka's struggling batters.Nepal's Historic OpportunityNepal, despite being placed in a challenging group, has never faced Sri Lanka before. Their bowling attack, led by the experienced Karan KC, poses a threat to Sri Lanka's top order. With Sri Lanka's batting woes well-documented, Nepal senses an opportunity for an upset.Key Players in the SpotlightKaran KC, Nepal's second-highest T20I wicket-taker, will be crucial in containing Sri Lanka's batters. Nuwan Thushara, Sri Lanka's slingy pacer, has been a force in the powerplay, and Nepal's batters must be wary of his deceptive swing and trajectory.Team News and Pitch ConditionsNepal is likely to stick with its seam-heavy combination, while Sri Lanka may consider bringing in a third frontline seamer. The pitch in Lauderhill is expected to favor batters, but rain could disrupt the match.Stats and Trivia* Nuwan Thushara has the best strike rate (9.4 deliveries per wicket) among Full Member bowlers with at least 10 T20I wickets since January 2023.* Eleven of the 15 completed matches in Lauderhill have been won by the side batting first.* The average score in Lauderhill is 160, with the average first innings score being 168.Quotes"We are very well prepared for tomorrow's game," said Nepal captain Rohit Paudel."The morale is there, the spirit is there," said Sri Lanka fast bowling coach Aqib Javed.

Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup campaign has been a tale of mixed fortunes. Despite two early defeats, they remain in contention for the next stage, thanks to the unpredictable nature of the pitches and the resilience of their bowling attack.The pitches in Group D have been notoriously low-scoring, with no team managing to score more than Sri Lanka's 124 batting first. This has made it difficult for batters to adapt, leading to a series of low-scoring thrillers.Sri Lanka's fast bowling coach, Aqib Javed, believes that the unpredictable pitches have played a significant role in their team's performances. "We were the first ones who'd gone through this process," he said. "Now the people are realizing what total to place, and what they're expecting when they're choosing even a small total."Despite the challenging conditions, Sri Lanka's bowlers have performed admirably. Against South Africa, they defended a meager 77, while against Bangladesh, they nearly pulled off a late victory with a flurry of wickets.Javed is particularly impressed with the variety of Sri Lanka's bowling attack. "You have the best legspinner in the world, you have a mystery bowler, and you have slingers which is very unique and very effective in T20 cricket," he said.While the bowling has been a bright spot, Sri Lanka's batting has been a concern. Javed acknowledges that their batters have not been up to scratch, but he believes they can improve. "The beauty of this World Cup is that you cannot take easy to anything," he said. "I think honestly if you look at the pitch, you have to be very careful, especially as a batter. How to adapt, what to leave out, and I think the best plan is to go out there and assess the situation and conditions."With two games remaining, Sri Lanka's fate is still in their own hands. If they can win their next two matches and Bangladesh and Netherlands both lose at least one of their next two, they will qualify for the next stage.

Nepal's captain, Rohit Paudel, is brimming with confidence ahead of their crucial T20 World Cup clash against Sri Lanka on June 11. The recent string of upsets and close finishes in the tournament has instilled a belief in the Associate team that they can overcome the pressure-ridden Sri Lankans.Paudel's optimism stems from the impressive performances of other Associate teams, such as USA's victory over Pakistan and Canada's triumph against Ireland. He also points to the low-scoring nature of the tournament so far, which he believes favors Nepal's chances."We want to go tomorrow and showcase our talent in front of the world," Paudel declared. "We believe that we are going to win tomorrow."Sri Lanka, on the other hand, finds themselves on the brink of elimination after losing their first two matches. Paudel believes that this pressure will work to Nepal's advantage."The team believes, and more than us, as a team, the pressure is on the Test-playing nation," Paudel said. "We will utilize the pressure, create the pressure and we want to win the game tomorrow."Nepal will be boosted by the addition of star legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane for their last two league games, but he will miss the Sri Lanka clash due to visa issues. Despite this setback, Paudel remains confident in his team's ability to pull off an upset."We are very confident for tomorrow," Paudel asserted. "If we do the basic things right, I think we are ahead."

Bangladesh's head coach, Chandika Hathurusinghe, expressed his delight with the bowling unit's performance in their T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Sri Lanka. Despite Sri Lanka's strong start, the Bangladesh bowlers rallied to restrict them to a modest 124 for 9.Mustafizur Rahman and Rishad Hossain were the standout performers, claiming three wickets each, while Taskin Ahmed chipped in with two. Hathurusinghe praised Mustafizur's confidence and the bowling unit's collective ownership of their plans."The way the bowling unit has taken ownership of the situation and plans, it was very impressive," Hathurusinghe said. "My coaching staff is doing a good job by giving them a lot of information, but they are the ones making all the decisions in the middle."Hathurusinghe singled out legspinner Rishad's performance as the "most pleasing thing" from Bangladesh's victory. Rishad's three wickets in two overs triggered Sri Lanka's collapse."We backed him [Rishad] for a year. We knew that he is going to win games for us," Hathurusinghe said. "Winning that game was important. It was very satisfying. You know how challenging it is for us to get a legspinner into the team."However, Hathurusinghe acknowledged that the batters who are struggling with form need to regain their confidence. Soumya Sarkar, captain Shanto, and Tanzid Hasan were dismissed cheaply against Sri Lanka."We talk about their game, their strength, and their opposition. But once they [the batters] get into the middle, they are on their own. They need to understand their game and how they feel," Hathurusinghe said. "It is not technical. If you look at the dismissals, they are not getting out in a certain way.""I think they need to calm down and think about their strength. When you are confident, you play to your strength. That's the message for any batter: remember your actions when you are doing well."In the chase, Bangladesh lost three wickets in the powerplay before Towhid Hridoy and Mahmudullah steadied the innings. Mahmudullah's unbeaten 16 guided Bangladesh to victory."I was always impressed with his [Mahmudullah's] ability to finish games, that's why he is batting where he is batting," Hathurusinghe said. "He has a lot of experience. He is one of the calmest guys in the middle under pressure in our team. He knows his role."Hathurusinghe also praised Litton Das for his 36-run knock, but emphasized that the other batters need to step up."Lately, we have been inconsistent. It is a difficult format to take time to get in form. You have to get going from the start. Confidence plays a big part in T20 cricket," he said. "Some of the batters are short of runs. They train well, but it is the lack of confidence due to lack of runs."

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh faced off in a crucial T20 World Cup match in Dallas, with Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto winning the toss and electing to bowl first. Sri Lanka, reeling from a heavy defeat to South Africa in their opener, needed a strong performance to revive their tournament hopes.Bangladesh's bowlers made an early impact, with Mustafizur Rahman dismissing Sri Lanka's top scorer Pathum Nissanka for 47. However, Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva steadied the innings, forming an unbeaten partnership to guide Sri Lanka to a respectable total.Bangladesh's batting lineup struggled to match Sri Lanka's efforts. Opener Liton Das was dismissed cheaply, and the middle order failed to provide any substantial contributions. Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh's star all-rounder, was dismissed for just 16 runs.Sri Lanka's bowlers, led by Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga, maintained a tight grip on the Bangladesh batsmen. Theekshana claimed three wickets, while Hasaranga picked up two. Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for a paltry 103 runs, handing Sri Lanka a comfortable victory.The win was a much-needed boost for Sri Lanka, who had been under pressure after their opening defeat. They will now face Afghanistan in their next match, while Bangladesh will take on South Africa.

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka: A Rivalry Renewed in a Crucial T20 World Cup ClashThe stage is set for another chapter in the burgeoning rivalry between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as they face off in a pivotal T20 World Cup match on June 7 in Dallas. With three Full Members in Group D, the winner of this contest will gain a significant advantage in the race for the Super Eights.The rivalry between these two nations has intensified in recent years, marked by on-field sledging and off-field banter. Both teams will be eager to prove their superiority and gain a psychological edge in this high-stakes encounter.Sri Lanka, coming off a disappointing defeat to South Africa, will be looking to bounce back with a strong performance. Their batting unit, which struggled against South Africa, will need to find their rhythm and avoid the tendency to loft the ball into the fielders. Kusal Mendis, who has a stellar record against Bangladesh, will be a key player for Sri Lanka.Bangladesh, on the other hand, has been in poor form in T20Is this year. They have lost to Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and USA, raising concerns about their hunger and adaptability. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto will be under pressure to lead his team to a much-needed victory.Key Players to Watch:* Najmul Hossain Shanto (Bangladesh): The Bangladesh captain has struggled for form this year but is known for his ability to bounce back from adversity.* Kusal Mendis (Sri Lanka): Mendis has been Bangladesh's tormentor in recent matches, scoring heavily against them in all formats.Team News:* Bangladesh is likely to recall Taskin Ahmed from injury, while Shoriful Islam remains a concern.* Sri Lanka may include Dushmantha Chameera in place of Nuwan Thushara or Maheesh Theekshana.Pitch and Conditions:The pitch in Dallas is expected to be favorable for batting, with no rain in the forecast.Stats that Matter:* Kusal Mendis has a high strike rate against Bangladesh's key bowlers.* Sri Lanka has won both previous T20 World Cup matches against Bangladesh.* Bangladesh has lost 100 T20Is, while Sri Lanka has lost 99.Quotes:"I personally don't want to see this match differently. It is very important, but it is important to execute our plan with a cool mind." - Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto"We have played good cricket against Bangladesh in the recent past. We have that confidence and momentum going through this game." - Sri Lanka batting coach Thilina Kandamby

Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup campaign has been marred by logistical challenges, with captain Wanindu Hasaranga and spinner Maheesh Theekshana expressing their dissatisfaction over the team's hectic travel schedule.After a disappointing 6-wicket defeat to South Africa in their tournament opener, Sri Lanka faced a grueling post-match routine. They had to rush back to their hotel in Brooklyn, pack, check out, and head to the airport for a 6 pm flight to Dallas for their next game against Bangladesh.Theekshana voiced his frustration, stating, "It's unfair for us. We have to leave every day because we're playing at four different venues. We had to wait eight hours in the airport for our flight from Miami. It's really unfair."Sri Lanka is one of only two teams in the tournament playing their first-round matches at four different venues. Theekshana revealed that the team had to cancel their training session due to travel fatigue and had to wake up at 5 am to reach the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium for their game against South Africa."We had to wake up around 5 am to come here," Theekshana said. "I think everyone will rethink about next year because I know that this year, nothing will change."Hasaranga also acknowledged the impact of the travel schedule, saying, "We had a tough time the last few days. All four games in four venues. It's hard. We didn't know anything about the conditions here."Sri Lanka's logistical challenges have added to their on-field struggles. After being bundled out for 77 against South Africa, they will need to regroup quickly for their crucial match against Bangladesh.