Current Final

Tag: Sri Lanka

  • Pakistan opt to bowl first in second ODI against Sri Lanka

    Pakistan opt to bowl first in second ODI against Sri Lanka

    Pakistan on Friday won the toss and opted to field first in the second One-day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

    All-rounder Faheem Ashraf has been rested as spinner Abrar Ahmed returns to the XI, stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha said at the toss as skipper Shaheen Afridi, who is down with flu, was replaced by pacer Mohammad Wasim Jr.

    The match shifts focus back to the field after a day and a night of turbulence due to a suicide attack in Islamabad.

    The match was originally scheduled for Thursday, but the schedule was thrown into disarray amid concerns expressed by the Sri Lankan team.

    As several visiting players contemplated abandoning the tour altogether, Pakistan’s interior minister and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi held lengthy discussions with the Sri Lankan delegation to assure them of their safety.

    The situation stabilised on Wednesday night as Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) reaffirmed its commitment to completing the series. The Sri Lankan High Commissioner also expressed satisfaction over the security of its team following a meeting with Naqvi in Islamabad.

    Reacting to the Sri Lankan side’s confidence, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar thanked them and said: “We are honoured by your presence.”

    Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also said: “Our special thanks to the Sri Lankan Cricket Team for their visit and for a good display of cricket. Our best wishes and gratitude.”

    PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars said the Sri Lankan team defeated terrorism.

    Earlier, Pakistan won the first ODI on Nov 11 by six runs, securing a lead in the three-match series.

  • Sri Lanka’s Dunith Wellalage leaves Asia Cup to attend father’s funeral

    Sri Lanka’s Dunith Wellalage leaves Asia Cup to attend father’s funeral

    Sri Lankan all-rounder Dunith Wellalage has flown back home early Friday after the unexpected passing of his father Suranga Wellalage.

    The 22-year-old, who featured in Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup Group B victory against Afghanistan in Dubai, departed Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airways flight EY-392, arriving in Katunayake.

    Suranga Wellalage, a former cricketer, died on September 18 at the age of 54, reportedly losing his life to a sudden heart attack. Dunith was informed of the tragic news after the match, which Sri Lanka won by six wickets with eight balls to spare, securing their spot in the Super Four stage.

    Wellalage immediately left the team camp to return home, and his participation in the remainder of the tournament now appears highly unlikely.

    Sri Lanka is scheduled to face Bangladesh on September 20, Pakistan on the 23rd, and India on the 26th.

    This was Wellalage’s debut appearance in the Asia Cup and just his fifth T20 International. He has represented Sri Lanka in 31 ODIs, with a standout performance of 5 for 27 against India in Colombo in August 2024. He also took 5 for 40 against India in a 2023 Asia Cup match, when the tournament was played in the ODI format. He was the equal-second wicket-taker in that tournament, claiming 10 dismissals at an average of 17.90.

  • Sri Lanka train derailed after smashing into elephants

    Sri Lanka train derailed after smashing into elephants

    A Sri Lankan passenger train derailed Thursday after smashing into a family of elephants, with no passengers injured but six animals killed in the island’s worst such wildlife accident, police said.

    The express train was travelling near a wildlife reserve at Habarana, some 180 kilometres (110 miles) east of the capital Colombo, when it hit the herd crossing the line before dawn.

    “The train derailed, but there were no casualties among the passengers,” police said, adding that wildlife authorities were treating two elephants who survived the crash.

    Videos shot after the accident showed one elephant standing guard over an injured youngster lying beside the tracks, with the tips of their trunks curled together.

    Killing or harming elephants is a criminal offence in Sri Lanka, which has an estimated 7,000 wild elephants, with the animals considered a national treasure, partly due to their significance in Buddhist culture.

    Two baby elephants and their pregnant mother were killed in a similar accident by a train in the same area in September 2018.

    Since then, the authorities ordered train drivers to observe speed limits to minimise injury to elephants when going through areas where they cross the lines.

    The elephant deaths comes days after the authorities expressed concern over the growing impact of conflict between humans and elephants, as the ancient habitat of the animals is increasingly encroached upon.

    Farmers scratching a living from smallholder plots often fight back against elephants raiding their crops.

    Deputy Minister of Environment Anton Jayakody told AFP on Sunday that 150 people and 450 elephants were killed in clashes in 2023.

    That is an increase on the previous year, when 145 people and 433 elephants were killed, according to official data.

    Just those two years represent more than a tenth of the island’s elephants.

    But Jayakody said he was confident the government could find solutions.

    “We are planning to introduce multiple barriers — these may include electric fences, trenches, or other deterrents — to make it more difficult for wild elephants to stray into villages,” Jayakody said.

    A study last year detailed how Asian elephants loudly mourn and bury their dead calves, in a report that details animal behaviour reminiscent of human funeral rites.

    Elephants are known for their social and cooperative behaviour but calf burial had previously only been “briefly studied” in African elephants — remaining unexplored among their smaller Asian cousins, according to the study in the Journal of Threatened Taxa.

    Asian elephants are recognised as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

    An estimated 26,000 of them live in the wild, mostly in India with some in Southeast Asia, surviving for an average of 60-70 years outside captivity.

  • McDonald’s stores shut in Sri Lanka over poor hygiene case

    McDonald’s stores shut in Sri Lanka over poor hygiene case

    McDonald’s stores across Sri Lanka shut Sunday after the US fast-food giant launched a legal battle with its local franchise holder over allegations of poor hygiene, court officials said.

    The Commercial High Court of Colombo ordered the closures until April 4, after the parent company accused the local franchise holder of failing to meet international hygiene standards.

    “The closure was ordered pending an investigation,” a court official said.

    He said lawyers for McDonald’s told the court that they had terminated a franchise agreement with local company Abans last week. The hearing is to resume in early April.

    There was no immediate comment either from McDonald’s or Abans, who has held the franchise with 12 outlets since the US firm’s entry into Sri Lanka in 1998.

    Notices were seen outside McDonald’s outlets on Sunday saying they were “closed” and there was no indication if or when they may reopen.

    When a technology hitch disrupted ordering at stores across much of east Asia last week, Sri Lanka’s McDonald’s stores were unaffected.

  • 40 countries to hold elections in 2024, including Pakistan

    40 countries to hold elections in 2024, including Pakistan

    The new year is just over one month away and it is going to be the biggest election year in history yet.

    40 countries are scheduled to vote in 2024 across the globe which, as calculated by Bloomberg Economics, represent 41% of the world’s population and 42% of its global GDP.

    The marathon will begin with Taiwan in January and end with the US in November.

    Here are some of the prominent countries lined up for elections: Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Gambia, and Libya in Africa; Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, the United States, and Venezuela in the Americas; Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Australia, and Pakistan in Asia and Oceania; Austria, Belarus, Belgium, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom in Europe.

    There are, however, four elections that the world has eyes on — elections that are expected to alter geopolitics in the next decade.

    Russia will elect the new president in March who will govern until 2030, putting Russia-NATO relations at the forefront.

    In April-May, India will hold elections and as per analysts, Modi’s loss can push back investors.

    The European Union will conduct bloc-wide polls in June to appoint members of the European Parliament for the 2024-2029 which will be pertinent for the increasing friction between right-wing and left-wing policymakers on issues like immigration and Ukraine.

    The United States will hold legislative and presidential elections in November for 2025-2028, while everyone curiously waits whether Republicans will return to the White House or not.

  • South Asia worst in world for water scarcity: UN

    South Asia worst in world for water scarcity: UN

    New Delhi (AFP) – More children in South Asia are struggling due to severe water scarcity made worse by the impacts of climate change than anywhere else worldwide, the United Nations said Monday.

    “A staggering 347 million children under 18 are exposed to high or extremely high water scarcity in South Asia, the highest number among all regions in the world,” the UN children’s agency said in a report.

    The eight-nation region, comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, is home to more than one-quarter of the world’s children.

    “Climate change is disrupting weather patterns and rainfall, leading to unpredictable water availability,” the UN said in its report.

    The report cites poor water quality, lack of water and mismanagement such as over-pumping of aquifers, while climate change decreases the amount of water replenishing them.

    “When village wells go dry, homes, health centres and schools are all affected,” UNICEF added.

    “With an increasingly unpredictable climate, water scarcity is expected to become worse for children in South Asia.”

    At the UN COP28 climate conference in December in Dubai, UNICEF said it will call for leaders “to secure a livable planet”.

    “Safe water is a basic human right,” said Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF chief for South Asia.

    “Yet millions of children in South Asia don’t have enough to drink in a region plagued by floods, droughts and other extreme weather events, triggered increasingly by climate change”.

    Last year, 45 million children lacked access to basic drinking water services in South Asia, more than any other region, but UNICEF said services were expanding rapidly, with that number slated to be halved by 2030.

    Behind South Asia was Eastern and Southern Africa, where 130 million children are at risk from severe water scarcity, the report added.

  • World Cup 2023: Sri Lanka defeats England by eight wickets

    World Cup 2023: Sri Lanka defeats England by eight wickets

    In the 25th match of the ICC ODI World Cup, Sri Lanka defeated defending champions England by eight wickets, achieving their second victory in the tournament.

    English batsmen appeared to be in trouble against Sri Lanka from the beginning with a continuous fall of wickets. Sri Lanka kept pressure on England throughout the innings.

    Half of the English team were bowled out for just 85 runs, but Ben Stokes gave them little hope of a big score, before he too was bowled out for 43 runs. Jonny Bairstow 30, David Mullan 28, Joe Root three, and David Wiley was not out scoring 15 runs.

    Sri Lanka’s Lahiru Kumara dismissed three players while Angelo Mathews, and Kisun Rajitha took two wickets each while Thakshana took one wicket.

    Chasing England’s target, Sri Lanka’s Patham Nissanka scored 77 runs off 83 balls, with the help of two sixes and seven fours.

    Siddira Wickrama remained not out with 65 runs off 54 balls while Kaushal Mendes scored 11 runs and Kaushal Perera got out with four runs.

  • ‘Sometimes cramps, sometimes I’m acting’: Rizwan’s hilarious quip is leading a meme storm

    ‘Sometimes cramps, sometimes I’m acting’: Rizwan’s hilarious quip is leading a meme storm

    Pakistanis celebrated all night long after their cricket team’s stunning victory against Sri Lanka on Tuesday night, successfully chasing down a 345 runs target with six wickets to spare. The win created history as the highest successful chase in the World Cup. Cricketers Muhammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafiq paved the way for the team, leading it to a comfortable victory with their stunning centuries.

    Now, Rizwan’s hilarious quips after the match have taken center stage. Addressing a press conference, he talked about the cramps that plagued him while he was playing, limping on the pitch.

    Addressing the moment, Rizwan cheekily replied “Sometimes it’s cramps, sometimes I’m acting.”

    The one-liner soon led to a meme-storm on the internet, as if there weren’t enough reasons to love Muhammad Rizwan, he just gave us another one.

    With that, we just found a new way to get off from hectic work schedules thanks to Rizwan

    Not just an ace in the field, but also an ace in the meme game.

    Us next time Mama says guests arahay hain kamra saaf karo

    Bas give him an Oscar because he just gave the internet a gold star meme

  • India thrashes Sri Lanka to win Asia Cup title for 8th time

    India thrashes Sri Lanka to win Asia Cup title for 8th time

    India won the Asia Cup title for a record eighth time by defeating defending champions Sri Lanka in the final of the Asia Cup 2023 on Sunday. India easily chased down Sri Lanka’s target of just 51 runs in 6.1 overs, winning the match by 10 wickets to become Asian champions.

    Shubman Gul and Ishan Kishan remained unbeaten on 27 runs and 23 runs respectively for India.

    It should be noted that India has won the title of Asia Cup the most times.

    In the final played at Wilambo, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat against India, which turned out to be the wrong decision.

    The Lankan batting started with a delay due to rain, but as soon as the match started, the Sri Lankan batting line-up was decimated, with 6 wickets down for just 12 runs. Sri Lankan players could not even enter double figures, with Kaushal Mendes becoming top scorer with 17 runs. Five Sri Lankan players were bowled out for zero.

    India captain Rohit Sharma said on the occasion of the toss that if his team had won the toss, they would have batted first.

    Read More: Did we lose the match because of Shehbaz’s tweets? X users say yes

  • Did we lose the match because of Shehbaz’s tweets? X users say yes

    Did we lose the match because of Shehbaz’s tweets? X users say yes

    Former Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif is a big sports fan and tweets about cricket and tennis quite often. His tweets full of excitement during the Asia Cup about Pakistani cricketers created quite a stir, but not for the right reasons. Twitter (now X) users are blaming Shehbaz for Pakistan’s loss. Here’s why.

    On September 2 when Pakistan played its first match against India in Asia Cup 2023,Shehbaz tweeted that the Indians “CANNOT PLAY’ Shaheen Shah Afridi.

    However, in the next match between Pakistan and India, Shaheen’s performance was so bad that even his father-in-law Shahid Afridi was not happy with his performance.

    “If we ball like Naseem Shah in initial overs, the situation could have been different. Shaheen’s line and length were not good, he gets frustrated if he doesn’t get wickets in early overs because he is known as a wicket taker in the first over,” said Shahid about Shaheen.

    Pakistan lost the match to India by 228 runs.

    Pakistan lost the crucial Super 4 match against Sri Lanka yesterday and thus couldn’t qualify for the Asia Cup final.

    Shehbaz Sharif was quick to buck up the Boys in Green.

    “That was an incredible last over, Zaman. A great game of cricket indeed.”

    X users were quick to point out that after Shehbaz praised Shaheen, he performed badly and now that he has praised Zaman Khan, his career may be over. One user told Shehbaz to “stay away from cricket”.

    Here are some tweets: