The Under-19 World Cup, originally scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka early next year (2024), has undergone a change in venue. The International Cricket Council (ICC) was compelled to relocate the tournament from Sri Lanka, with the new destination being South Africa. This decision was reached during an emergency board meeting convened by the ICC on Tuesday. The Youth World Cup is now slated to occur from January 13 to February 4.
In a significant turn of events, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) has been granted a reprieve from its recent suspension, following the dissolution of the board by Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe due to corruption allegations last month. The decision to lift the ban, which was imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC), comes under the tenure of the new Sports Minister, Harin Fernando.
In the aftermath of India's World Cup defeat, Sri Lankan cricket is undergoing a significant transformation, marked by fresh faces and strategic changes. The Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) has initiated a wave of appointments, introducing younger individuals to key positions. Notably, Upul Tharanga, a promising talent, has been appointed as the chief selector, signaling a shift towards a more dynamic and forward-thinking approach.
Sri Lanka is set to witness a change in leadership during the upcoming T20 and ODI series against Zimbabwe. Dasun Shanaka, following the World Cup disappointment, is no longer at the helm. The Sri Lanka Cricket Board has appointed Wanindu Hasaranga as the captain for the T20 series and Kushal Mendis for the ODI series.
In a preparatory match for the Under-19 World Cup, Bangladesh faced a significant defeat against Sri Lanka. The island nation showcased a revengeful performance, securing a 112-run victory in a rain-affected warm-up encounter at the Schwan University of Technology Oval in Pretoria.
Despite playing well throughout the tournament, the girls of Bangladesh could not reach the finals. They lost against Sri Lanka in the final of the U-19 tri-series and had to be content with being runners-up. Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 36 runs in the final. Today, Friday (January 2), Sri Lanka won the toss and batted first at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Cox's Bazar and scored 148 runs in 20 overs. In response, Bangladesh could score 112 runs by batting the scheduled 20 overs and losing 8 wickets.
Bangladesh face a tough equation in the U-19 World Cup. Mahfuzur Rahman Rabbis have to win against Pakistan tomorrow to go to the semi-finals. The match of Super Six should not only be won, it should be won by a big margin. How big a gap? The ICC has written on its website about this, "Bangladesh will reach the last four if they can beat Pakistan and overtake them in run-rate." Bangladesh will not reach the semi-finals if they lose to Pakistan or win by a small margin.
Mohammad Saifuddin was not in discussion before the start of the recently concluded BPL. Fortune joins Barisal fully fit from injury. He came into the discussion with a great ball in the last over of the innings in the final. That overtie plays a big role in winning the title. But despite such a great performance, why he did not get a chance in the national team, the question has now created a storm on social media.
The left-handed batsman spoke ahead of the Sri Lanka series at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. He was asked about the plan for the three editions. One by one, Shanta presented the three versions of thought.
Whatever the version, Bangladesh has had a great fight against Sri Lanka in recent times. A rivalry has also developed between the two teams due to various reasons. As a result, no one talks to anyone else. Sri Lanka's head coach Chris Silverwood considers himself the favorite to play the series in Bangladesh.
