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VerifiedNewsAug 21

Sri Lanka add Kamil Mishara and Sahan Arachchige for Colombo Test

Sri Lanka have included batter Kamil Mishara and all-rounder Sahan Arachchige in their squad for the second Test against India in Colombo. The board dropped paceman Dilshan Madushanka and spinner Ramesh Mendis from the group that played in Galle.

Kusal Mendis remains unavailable with a hamstring injury, and Dinesh Chandimal is still out after a concussion. Sri Lanka may prepare a balanced surface at the SSC rather than a spin-friendly track.

The second Test starts on Friday, with India holding a 1-0 lead after their 165-run win in Galle.

Aug 21

India mixed disability team recreates Ganguly's Lord's celebration

India's mixed disability team recreated Sourav Ganguly's Lord's celebration after beating England by 118 runs in the deciding T20I.

India's mixed disability team marked their 118-run T20I series win over England by recreating Sourav Ganguly's shirt-waving celebration from the Lord's balcony. The final match ended on Tuesday.

The side completed a clean sweep after posting 214 for 4 and restricting England to 96. Captain S. Siva said the gesture honoured India's 2002 NatWest Series triumph.

The series formed part of the ECB's ongoing support programme for disability cricket between the two nations.

via Hindustan Times
Aug 21

Deepesh Devendran bowls 146kmph thunderbolt in TNPL

Deepesh Devendran clocked 146kmph for Salem Spartans in the Tamil Nadu Premier League.

Deepesh Devendran hit 146kmph on Friday for Salem Spartans in the TNPL. The 18-year-old right-arm quick took two wickets in his four-over spell.

His speed has climbed 8kmph since the domestic season began. He made his TNPL debut this month after strong age-group showings for Tamil Nadu.

State selectors have taken notice ahead of the Ranji Trophy. Devendran has two more matches before the league ends next week.

Aug 21

SLC appoint Hashan Tillakaratne as batting coach

Former captain Hashan Tillakaratne takes over as Sri Lanka's senior men's batting coach at the National High Performance Centre.

Sri Lanka Cricket named former captain Hashan Tillakaratne as batting coach of the senior men's programme on Friday. The 53-year-old will work with national team players at the SLC's National High Performance Centre in Colombo.

Tillakaratne played 57 Tests and 200 ODIs for Sri Lanka between 1989 and 2004. He scored 4,545 Test runs and led the side in 39 matches during his career.

The appointment fills the role vacated by the previous batting coach earlier this month. Tillakaratne will begin duties ahead of the national team's next international assignment.

OfficialNewsAug 21

Kate Cross retires from professional cricket at end of season

England seamer Kate Cross retires after 102 international caps and 140 wickets across all formats.

England seamer Kate Cross will retire from professional cricket at the end of the current English summer. The 34-year-old Lancashire bowler made her England debut in October 2013 and finished with 102 international caps.

Cross took 140 wickets across Tests, ODIs and T20Is during a 13-year career at the top level. She remained with Lancashire for two decades before deciding to step away.

The announcement ends a career that began with her debut against the West Indies and included participation in two World Cup-winning squads.

VerifiedInsightAug 20

Tamim Iqbal rules out BPL 2026 over BDT 40 crore losses

Tamim Iqbal has cancelled the BPL 2026 after BDT 40 crore in losses and ongoing franchise issues, with India's September tour also facing possible delays.

BCB president Tamim Iqbal has ruled out the Bangladesh Premier League for 2026. The league has lost around BDT 40 crore over recent seasons, and he says the franchise model needs fixing before it runs again.

The board has confirmed next year's edition is off while it works on a new structure. Tamim added that India's September tour is still under discussion, and both sides are willing to move the dates if needed.

Years of regulatory pressure and franchise disputes have left the BCB short on cash and trust.

via Cricbuzz, Times of India, Hindustan Times
Aug 20

Harry Brook falls one short of Headingley century as England reach 366 for 8

Harry Brook fell for 99 as England reached 366 for 8 on day two against Pakistan at Headingley.

Harry Brook was dismissed for 99 on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan at Headingley. England closed at 366 for 8 after Pakistan had made 171 in their first innings.

Brook had not scored a Test hundred since June 2024 and had missed out by one run at the same ground against India last summer. Pakistan's bowlers struck late in the day to limit further damage.

The hosts lead by 195 runs with two days remaining.

Aug 20

Thomas and Nicholls put Somerset in control of County Championship match

James Thomas scores 96 on debut while Tom Nicholls hits a hundred as Somerset dominate their County Championship match.

James Thomas made 96 on debut for Somerset, sharing a stand with Tom Nicholls that pushed the title-chasing county into a strong position.

Thomas, signed from overseas, came in and settled quickly. Nicholls held the innings together, reaching his hundred and giving Somerset a total worth defending.

Their runs leave Somerset well placed as the match heads into its final stages.

BreakingNewsAug 20

KL Rahul praises Manav Suthar's pace and consistency after Galle win

KL Rahul highlighted Manav Suthar's pace and consistency as key factors in India's 165-run win over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle.

India vice-captain KL Rahul credited Manav Suthar's pace, consistency and impact for the 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in Galle. Rahul said the team handled the spin-friendly conditions well and executed its plans throughout the match.

Suthar took ten wickets for 131 runs and became the youngest Indian to achieve the feat in a Test match. His figures matched a 93-year-old record for the best match haul by an Indian spinner in Sri Lanka.

Rahul added that every Test win matters and the team came away with confidence for tougher assignments ahead. India lead the series 1-0 with the second Test scheduled in Colombo.

BreakingNewsAug 20

Padikkal and Suthar performances point to India A fast-track selection model

Devdutt Padikkal's 167 and Manav Suthar's ten-wicket haul in Galle reflect India's preference for fast-tracking India A graduates into the Test side.

Devdutt Padikkal scored 167 on his Test return and shared a substantial partnership with KL Rahul at number three. Manav Suthar took 17 wickets in his first two Tests, including ten in Galle, and showed variations that troubled Sri Lanka's middle order.

KL Rahul said the India A tours helped younger players adapt to Test cricket conditions. Padikkal noted that batting at number three requires understanding what has already happened on the pitch rather than forcing the tempo.

Cheteshwar Pujara urged Suthar to remain a red-ball specialist and avoid adapting his natural style for white-ball cricket. India take a 1-0 lead into the Colombo Test with Saransh Jain in line for a possible debut if selectors add another spinner.

BreakingNewsAug 20

165 runs — India beat Sri Lanka in Galle Test

Manav Suthar claimed 10 wickets as India won the Galle Test by 165 runs.

Manav Suthar

India beat Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test at Galle, with Manav Suthar taking 10 wickets for 131 runs to seal a 1-0 series lead. The win came on Wednesday after Sonal Dinusha's century for Sri Lanka on day three couldn't prevent the collapse.

KL Rahul, India's vice-captain, said every Test win matters. The team handled the spin-friendly conditions well and came away with confidence for tougher matches ahead. Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal missed the final day after suffering a concussion in a fielding incident on day four; Pasindu Sooriyabandara replaced him under concussion substitution rules.

Suthar's 10-wicket haul made him the youngest Indian to achieve it in a Test. His figures matched a 93-year-old record for the best match haul by an Indian spinner in Sri Lanka — a milestone that underlines how rare this performance really is.

via Times of India, India Today, Hindustan Times
NewsAug 20

Sanjay Manjrekar says IPL generation's Test success remains a mystery

Sanjay Manjrekar called it a mystery how India's IPL generation has adapted successfully to Test cricket demands.

Sanjay Manjrekar says he still can't work out how India's IPL generation has taken to Test cricket so quickly. The former India batter made the point while talking about the team's recent form.

Plenty of the current squad built their names first in the IPL, then stepped into the five-day game and stayed. Manjrekar keeps coming back to the same question: how does white-ball practice prepare anyone for the patience and technique red-ball cricket actually needs?

VerifiedInsightAug 20

ICC reverses demerit point on Gaddafi Stadium pitch

ICC reverses demerit point on Gaddafi Stadium after appeals panel finds pitch did not show excessive unevenness or spin.

The ICC has lifted the demerit point slapped on Gaddafi Stadium after Pakistan's third ODI against Australia in June. The ground earned the penalty when the match produced low totals on a surface that looked awkward.

An appeals panel went back through the footage and found nothing excessive in the bounce or turn. Gaddafi Stadium keeps its clean record with the ICC.

That means Pakistan can stage full-strength internationals at the Lahore venue without the earlier cloud hanging over it.

via ESPNcricinfo, Hindustan Times
NewsAug 20

The ICC has cancelled the demerit point it gave Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The ground hosted the third ODI between Pakistan and Australia in June, and the low-scoring surface drew complaints from the visitors. After reviewing the pitch report, the ICC lifted the sanction.

Pakistan won that match by 31 runs, bowling Australia out for 177. The stadium is now back in line for full international fixtures.

Pakistan will host Sri Lanka and England in a tri-series later this year, part of the build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup, with matches spread across several venues.

via Hindustan Times
VerifiedNewsAug 20

England all-rounder Sam Curran will undergo groin surgery and miss the remainder of the English season, ending hopes of a Test return this summer against Pakistan or Sri Lanka. The 27-year-old last played a Test in 2021 and has not featured in red-ball cricket since then.

Medical staff confirmed the procedure after he picked up the injury during recent play, forcing England to reshape its limited-overs bowling plans for the home schedule. Curran had been in contention for the red-ball side earlier this summer before the injury struck.

His exit leaves a hole in England's white-ball depth heading into the winter tours, with the squad now relying on whoever remains in the all-rounder cupboard.

via BBC Sport
NewsAug 20

India women could face Mohsin Naqvi on Asia Cup final dais

Mohsin Naqvi will present the Asia Cup trophy if he remains ACC president at the time of the final.

Mohsin Naqvi will remain the ACC president when the Asia Cup final is played. The tournament structure places him on the presentation stage regardless of which teams reach the decider. Naqvi has held the post through the current cycle and no successor has been appointed.

The arrangement has drawn attention because Naqvi also leads the Pakistan Cricket Board. Indian officials have previously objected to his dual role during bilateral series. The final could create a similar situation if India reach the title match.

The Asia Cup schedule begins later this month. The final is set for the first week of August.

via Hindustan Times
OfficialInterviewAug 20

'Going back to basics helped end century drought' — Cameron Green

Pat Cummins said he is targeting a return to ODI cricket ahead of Australia's three-Test series against South Africa in September and October. The next assignment for Australia after drawing a two-Test series against Bangladesh are three ODIs in Zimbabwe and another three in South Africa in late September.

Cummins knows the South Africa tour matters more than the Bangladesh series. South Africa's varied conditions and quality attack will test Australia in ways Bangladesh could not. The WTC math is unforgiving, and Australia cannot afford slip-ups when they head to Johannesburg.

Australia wrapped up an innings and 51-run victory over Bangladesh in two days in Mackay. The quick win gave Australia early breathing room, but Cummins said the real work starts in October.

Aug 20

Monty Desai steps down as Canada head coach

Monty Desai resigned after Canada's T20 World Cup match drew corruption scrutiny and while Cricket Canada stays under ICC suspension.

Monty Desai has resigned as head coach of the Canada men's team. He took over after the side's T20 World Cup 2026 match came under a corruption investigation. Cricket Canada remains suspended by the ICC.

The board has not named an interim replacement. Desai had been in charge for less than four months. His departure leaves the programme without a permanent coach during the suspension period.

Canada are scheduled to play in the next ICC event only after the suspension is lifted. No timeline has been given for reinstatement.

NewsAug 19

Gary Kirsten recalls Galle discussion with Gautam Gambhir

Gary Kirsten discussed current team challenges with Gautam Gambhir during the Galle Test. Kirsten previously coached Gambhir in the 2011 World Cup-winning side.

Gary Kirsten caught up with Gautam Gambhir on the sidelines of India's Test in Galle. The two talked through what it takes to coach this Indian side.

Kirsten guided the 2011 World Cup winners, Gambhir in the middle order. Now they work different corners of Indian cricket — one an occasional consultant, the other head coach.

The chat happened during the first Test against Sri Lanka. Neither man has said what they actually discussed.

VerifiedInsightAug 19

Duleep Trophy final moved from Bengaluru to Chennai

The Duleep Trophy final shifts to Chennai to allow crowds while earlier rounds stay behind closed doors at the Centre of Excellence.

The BCCI has moved the Duleep Trophy 2026-27 final from the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The change allows spectators after earlier rounds were played behind closed doors. The five-day final is scheduled for 6-10 September.

Chennai can seat more than 20,000 spectators and has hosted the tournament before. The first four matches, including both semi-finals, remain at the CoE without crowds. No additional venues have been added.

The final decides the winner of India's traditional domestic curtain-raiser. The BCCI has not confirmed whether the same arrangement will apply next season.

Editorially curated cricket coverage · May contain inaccuracies. Verify from official sources.