Cricket

Sri Lanka's triumphant women's cricket team, fresh from their Asia Cup victory, will embark on a historic tour of Ireland from August 11-20. This will mark Sri Lanka's maiden bilateral tour of Ireland and Ireland's first home series of the year.The tour will feature two T20Is and three ODIs, with the first T20I scheduled for August 11 in Dublin. The second T20I will also be played in Dublin on August 13, followed by the ODI series in Belfast. The ODIs will be part of the 2022-2025 ICC Women's Championship cycle.Sri Lanka has enjoyed a remarkable run of form in 2024, winning 18 of their 23 white-ball matches. They also boast an unblemished record against Ireland, having won all six previous encounters. However, Ireland has yet to lose a bilateral series this year, making this tour a significant test for both teams.The tour will provide a valuable opportunity for both sides to prepare for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup in February 2023. Sri Lanka will be eager to continue their winning ways, while Ireland will be determined to prove their mettle against a top-ranked opponent.The full schedule of Sri Lanka's tour of Ireland 2024 is as follows:* August 11: 1st T20I, Dublin* August 13: 2nd T20I, Dublin* August 16: 1st ODI, Belfast* August 18: 2nd ODI, Belfast* August 20: 3rd ODI, Belfast

Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach of Team India, embarks on his tenure with the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. This marks a significant transition for the Indian cricket team, as Gambhir takes over the reins from Rahul Dravid, who guided the team to a successful ICC T20 World Cup campaign last month.Dravid, in an emotional audio message, extended his heartfelt wishes to Gambhir and shared his experiences as the head coach. He expressed his hope that Gambhir would have the luxury of a fully fit squad, something he often lacked during his tenure. Dravid also highlighted the importance of maintaining composure under pressure and seeking support from players, staff, and fans.Gambhir, in response, expressed his deep admiration for Dravid and acknowledged the emotional impact of his message. He described Dravid as the "most selfless player" he has worked with and committed to approaching his new role with honesty and transparency.The series against Sri Lanka will comprise three T20Is and three ODIs, with Shubman Gill serving as vice-captain to Suryakumar Yadav in T20Is and Rohit Sharma in ODIs. This tour will provide Gambhir with an opportunity to assess the team's strengths and weaknesses and implement his coaching philosophy.Gambhir's appointment as head coach has been met with mixed reactions. Some have questioned his experience at the international level, while others have praised his leadership qualities and his ability to work with younger players. As he begins his journey, the cricketing world will be keenly observing how he leads Team India through this new chapter.

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 Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the national team will embark on a tour of New Zealand in 2025, featuring three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). This will be the sixth series between the two nations since 2023.The tour was finalized during a meeting between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) CEO Scott Weenink in Lahore. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ongoing five-match T20I series between Pakistan and New Zealand.It was agreed in principle that the tour will take place after the 2025 Champions Trophy, which Pakistan is scheduled to host. The meeting was also attended by PCB COO Salman Naseer and Director International Cricket Usman Wahla.As per the existing ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP), New Zealand is also scheduled to tour Pakistan for a tri-nation series before the Champions Trophy.New Zealand visited Pakistan twice in 2022/23 for a Test and white-ball series, while Pakistan toured New Zealand in January 2023 for a five-match T20I series.PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the country's interior minister, requested the NZC official to convey the secure environment in Pakistan for international cricket to other ICC members."The PCB chief spoke in reference to Pakistan hosting the Champions Trophy early next year and the need for all participating nations to play in Pakistan without any concerns at all," a source said.The PCB is keen to showcase Pakistan's ability to host major international cricket events, and the upcoming Champions Trophy will be a significant opportunity to do so. The board is confident that the tour by New Zealand will further enhance the country's reputation as a safe and welcoming destination for cricket.

Rashid Khan, Afghanistan's star leg-spinner, has made a triumphant return to the national squad for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland. This marks a significant milestone in his recovery from a back injury that has sidelined him since the 2023 World Cup.Khan's absence has been a major blow to Afghanistan, who have missed his exceptional wicket-taking abilities. He was their leading wicket-taker at the ODI World Cup, claiming 11 scalps. His return will provide a much-needed boost to the team as they prepare for the T20 World Cup in June.In addition to Khan, Afghanistan have also welcomed back Mujeeb Ur Rahman, another key spinner who has been recovering from a finger injury. The return of these two experienced campaigners will significantly strengthen Afghanistan's spin attack.The squad also includes several uncapped players, including allrounder Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq. Left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote, who impressed on his ODI debut, is also in contention for a T20I debut.Afghanistan will host Ireland for three T20Is in Sharjah on March 15, 17, and 18. The series will be a crucial test for both teams as they prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Afghanistan will be eager to continue their winning ways after securing a 2-0 victory in the preceding ODIs.