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COLOMBO: Pakistan’s snooker teams launched their Asian team championship campaigns impressively on the opening day of the team event, with both teams securing victories in their respective group matches here on Thursday. Pakistan 1, featuring the formidable pairing of defending Asian 6-Red singles champion Awaisullah Munir and recent singles bronze medalist Mohammad Asif, showcased their class with two commanding performances. They began their campaign with a resounding 3-0 whitewash of Cambodia. The Pakistani duo dominated the match, sealing victory with significant breaks: a 69 break [82(69)-30], a 51 break [59(51)-16] and culminating in a flawless 78 clearance [78(78)-0]. Their momentum…

Day 2 Wrap | Tension rising as Australia slowly build lead Frustrated West Indies coach Daren Sammy says he’s approached the match referee seeking answers after several contentious DRS calls across the first two days in Barbados. Sammy called for consistency during an expansive post-play press conference on Thursday night (Friday morning Australian time) as the first Frank Worrell Trophy Test hangs in the balance with Australia leading by 82 runs with six second-innings wickets remaining. The former Windies captain turned men’s head coach believes his side have been on the “sharp end of the stick” for two separate TV…

Billy Stanlake commits to a new two-year deal in Hobart before jetting off to Darwin for his international return with Australia A The Hobart Hurricanes have re-signed towering fast bowler Billy Stanlake for the next two Big Bash seasons, keeping him in Hobart until the end of BBL|16 in 2027. Despite playing just eight BBL matches since joining Hobart in 2022, the paceman will gear up for his ninth Big Bash season this summer. Riddled by injuries in recent years, Stanlake is excited to be back with the defending champions for KFC BBL|15. “After such a successful season winning our…

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT Henry is in line for comeback ever since being sidelined after the Champions Trophy. © Getty Uncapped batter Bevon Jacobs, who was also a part of the squad that faced Sri Lanka in three T20s in December, has retained his spot in the New Zealand 15-member squad announced for the upcoming T20I tri-series involving South Africa and hosts Zimbabwe. Fast bowler Adam Milne returns to the side for the first time since November along with Matt Henry, who makes a return following a shoulder injury that kept him sidelined since the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Meanwhile, Ben Sears…

Day 2 Wrap | Tension rising as Australia slowly build lead West Indies are sensing another Test upset over Australia after ripping through the visitors’ new-look top order for the second straight day in Barbados. Having taken a slender 10-run first-innings lead courtesy of senior pair Roston Chase (44) and Shai Hope (48), the Windies went to stumps on day two 82 runs in arrears but with all Australia’s top four back in the sheds. Shamar Joseph (1-15) was again outstanding with the new ball amid a brilliant team bowling effort as all four quicks – along with Jayden Seales,…

ZIMBABWE T20I TRI-SERIES, 2025 Nortje – who had been pencilled in to play in the tri-series – wasn’t considered because of a stress-related back problem © Getty Welcome back Rassie van der Dussen, Nandre Burger and Gerald Coetzee. And Rob Walter. Welcome Lhuan-dre Pretorius and – to the format – Corbin Bosch, Rubin Hermann and Senuran Muthusamy. And Shukri Conrad. But there is no welcome for Anrich Nortje who has again been forced off the field. Van der Dussen last played for South Africa in March, Burger in August and Coetzee in November. Pretorius, Bosch, Hermann and Muthusamy have yet…

PLAYING CONDITIONS PowerPlay overs in T20Is will now be rounded to the nearest ball, not over, for better proportional accuracy © Getty The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced changes to the Playing Conditions in Twenty20 Internationals and the key point of alternation is in the PowerPlay calculations. To be more specific, the length of the powerplay will now be rounded to the nearest ball, instead of to the nearest over. As per the existing regulations, the first six overs are PowerPlay overs and they broadly constitute the 30 per cent of the permitted 20 overs. If the length of…

Pathum Nissanka’s second straight ton has led Sri Lanka to a lead in the second Test in Colombo Pathum Nissanka’s second successive Test century has led Sri Lanka to a formidable 2-290 after Bangladesh had been bowled out for 247 on day two of the second Test. The opening batter’s chanceless unbeaten 146 off 238 balls, featuring 18 fours, on Thursday followed his career-best 187 in the drawn first Test at Galle last week. Nissanka and Dinesh Chandimal ground down the Bangladesh bowlers with their 194-run second-wicket stand. Chandimal was seven runs from a century, 93 off 153 balls, when…

Star quick one step closer to Test return after being included for second Test against India in Birmingham Jofra Archer is one step closer to a long-awaited Test return after being added to the England squad for the second Test against India at Edgbaston. Ben Stokes’ side are desperate to have their star quick available for the Ashes in Australia later this year after a several injury setbacks over the past few years. The 30-year-old returns to England’s Test set-up for the first time since their tour of India in February 2021 following a lengthy absence due to a recurring…

BANGLADESH TOUR OF SRI LANKA, 2025 Mendis credited Nissanka for his brilliant batting display © AFP Sri Lanka’s wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis has said that a 150-200 run lead will put his side in a dominant position with spin expected to play a crucial role in the last two days of the ongoing second Test. Sri Lanka took a 43-run first innings lead on the back Pathum Nissanka’s unbeaten 146 and Dinesh Chandimal 93 as they finished Day 2 on 290/2. “We are in a very good position and tomorrow we have to bat the whole day. We will try to…