Com surpresas, Vasco está escalado para a 'Batalha de Itu'

MatériaMais Notícias

O Vasco está escalado para o jogo contra o Ituano, no Novelli Júnior, pela última rodada da Série B. Jorginho optou por um time mais marcador e promoveu a entrada de Gabriel Pec no lugar de Marlon Gomes, a grande surpresa da escalação. Sem Edimar suspenso, Luiz Henrique vai jogar na lateral-esquerda de forma improvisada, enquanto Raniel retorna a equipe na vaga de Eguinaldo.

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O time vai a campo com Thiago Rodrigues; Léo Matos, Danilo Boza, Anderson Conceição e Luiz Henrique; Yuri, Andrey Santos, Figueiredo, Nenê e Gabriel Pec; Raniel. Jorginho terá boas opções para o decorrer do jogo como Marlon Gomes, Eguinaldo, Alex Teixeira, Palácios e Bruno Tubarão, que devem manter a pegada da equipe no segundo tempo.

O confronto é direto pelo acesso. O Vasco sobe com o empate. A bola rola às 18h30.

FICHA TÉCNICA
ITUANO X VASCO
Local: Novelli Júnior, Itu (SP)
Data e hora: Domingo (06/11), às 18h30 (Brasília)
Árbitro: Wilton Pereira Sampaio (Fifa-GO)
Assistentes: Bruno Boschilia (Fifa-PR) e Kleber Lucio Gil (Fifa-SC)
VAR: Pablo Ramon Goncalves Pinheiro (Fifa-RN)
Onde assistir: Globo, SporTV e em tempo real no LANCE!/Voz do Esporte.

India surge ahead through Rodrigues, Deepti and Ghosh

Gardner picked up four wickets on what was otherwise a long day for Australia on the field

Srinidhi Ramanujam22-Dec-20231:26

Ghosh: ‘I didn’t let the pressure of playing my first Test get to me’

India overcame eight bowlers and batted 100 overs on an enthralling second day to lead Australia by 157 runs in the one-off Test in Mumbai. Determined fifties from Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, debutant Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma took the hosts to a mammoth 376 for 7, from the overnight score of 98 for 1, putting India in a commanding position.Offspinner Ashleigh Gardner’s accuracy and relentless bowling earned her four wickets on a surface that kept low and turned as the ball became old but otherwise, Australia toiled for wickets.Despite the lack of experience in playing Test cricket, Indian batters showed great technique and temperament built on solid defence. The hosts did suffer a mini-collapse in the second session, however, they recovered well in the final session to extend the lead.Related

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Vastrakar, Rana and openers put India on top

'Relentless' Pooja Vastrakar leaves Australia wobbling

An unbroken partnership of 102 for the eighth wicket between Deepti and Pooja Vastrakar suggested that it was a matter of hanging on for the batters to thrive and score runs in tangible terms.Mandhana, who was unbeaten on 43 on the first day, took her time to find boundaries in the morning and looked positive to convert her fifty to a big score. With the nightwatch Sneh Rana, she stitched 50 runs for the second wicket. Rana contributed 9 off 47 deliveries to frustrate the bowlers. Australia had their first breakthrough when Gardner cleaned Rana up after she missed a sweep, playing for the turn. Four overs later, a mix-up between Ghosh and Mandhana ended in the latter throwing her wicket away for 74. Her 106-ball knock consisted of 12 fours.Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh added 113 runs for the fourth wicket•BCCI

Once Mandhana departed, India had two crucial and big partnerships, one in the middle order and one lower down. Ghosh, who has been seen as a T20 specialist and is yet to become a regular in ODIs, made a mark by notching up a well-made 52 off 104 deliveries. She looked unhurried, putting the loose deliveries away and defending the good balls with confidence. She was also helped by Ellyse Perry’s drop at mid-off on 14. But after that, Ghosh looked set for her maiden fifty.She became one of the six players to have scored a fifty on debut since 2021.On the other end was Rodrigues, playing her second Test and making the most of the opportunity in whites. Having come in at 147 for 3, she accounted for 73 runs, hitting nine boundaries in her 121-ball stay.The two young batters played 187 deliveries to put on 113 runs that blunted Australia.Alyssa Healy, on her first tour as full-time Australia captain, tried almost all the bowlers in search of a wicket – left-arm spin, offspin, legspin, left-arm pace, right-arm pace – but no other bowler bowled such tight lines and troubled the batters like Gardner.Such was her consistency that Healy extracted 36 of the 100 overs that Australia bowled on Friday from her. Having bowled 41 overs overall, Gardner looked most threatening in the Australian attack to take a wicket every time she came in to bowl.Deepti Sharma was solid after India had lost some quick wickets•BCCI

Australia though fought back – briefly – with quick wickets when Ghosh fell to right-arm pacer Kim Garth while trying to go big after fifty. Gardner then added two wickets to her name, trapping Harmanpreet Kaur and Yastika Bhatia lbw before picking up the big wicket of Rodrigues just before tea. India lost 4 for 14 in 8.5 overs as they slipped to 276 for 7, with a lead of 57 after the second session.From there on, allrounders Vastrakar and Deepti showcased extraordinary game awareness to pile on more misery in the final session. When the ball was old and assisted spinners, the duo batted cautiously with patience aplenty for the first 20 overs. When the new ball was taken and the opportunities arose, they found boundaries with good technique.Deepti also looked more comfortable charging down the track to spinners when the new ball came into the picture. She kept the scorecard ticking to remain unbeaten on 70. This also meant she became the second woman with fifty-plus scores in each of their first four Tests after Australia’s Denise Emerson.Vastrakar, who played second fiddle, was mostly content to take singles in her 115-ball knock. The 100-run stand came up in 232 balls in the penultimate over of the day.

Pujara to play third season for Sussex in 2024

India batter to play first seven Championship games, joins Australian Daniel Hughes as overseas signings

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Dec-2023

Cheteshwar Pujara returns to Sussex for a third season in a row•Getty Images

Cheteshwar Pujara will return to Sussex for the 2024 season, joined by Australian batter Daniel Hughes as overseas signings for the club.Pujara will be available for the first seven County Championship matches in his third successive season with Sussex. Hughes, meanwhile, will be available from the start of the T20 Vitality Blast until the end of the season, playing in both the Blast and County Championship. They join bowlers Jayden Seales, of West Indies, and Australia’s Nathan McAndrew as the club’s overseas signings for the 2024 campaign.India Test batter Pujara has made 18 Championship appearances for Sussex so far, accumulating 1,863 runs at an average of 64.24, including eight centuries and three half-centuries. His highest score came against Derbyshire in 2022 when he made 231, sharing a stand of 351 with Tom Haines, who also scored a double-century. In 2023, Pujara’s highest score of 151 came against Gloucestershire, a knock that included 20 fours and two sixes.Related

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County ins and outs 2023-24

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“I have enjoyed my time at Hove the last couple of seasons and couldn’t be more delighted to be back again with the Sussex family,” Pujara said in a statement. “I am looking forward to joining the team and contributing to its success.”Paul Farbrace, Sussex Head Coach, said: “I am delighted that Cheteshwar is returning to Hove again for the first two months of the season. He is not just a high-quality player but is also a high-quality person. His experience and calmness in matches is a fantastic asset for our team.”Hughes, an aggressive top-order batter with NSW Blues and Sydney Sixers who turns 35 in February, averages 36.90 in first-class cricket with a best knock of 178. In his 137 innings, Hughes has gone on to 26 half-centuries and eight centuries.He claimed his second Steve Waugh Medal in 2019-20 after receiving his first in 2017-18. He also claimed the NSW Blues Marsh One-Day Cup Player of the Season award.In T20 cricket, Hughes has accumulated 2,204 runs in 93 innings at a strike rate of 120.89 and has been part of the Sydney Sixers team that won back-to-back Big Bash League titles in 2020 and 2021.”Playing county cricket has been a long-held ambition for me,” Hughes said. “I am delighted to get that opportunity at Sussex. The plans that exist for team are exciting and I look forward to getting to Hove and helping Sussex with success along the way”.Farbrace described Hughes as “a top-class player” with vast experience. “We are all very much looking forward to working him and enjoying how he helps our team on and off the field,” he said.

Ceni sonha com investimentos fortes no São Paulo em 2023, mas aceita austeridade se diretoria implantar

MatériaMais Notícias

Assegurado como técnico do São Paulo em 2023 pelo presidente Julio Casares, Rogério Ceni expôs parte do planejamento desenhado pela diretoria. Com chances praticamente remotas de se chegar na próxima edição da Copa Libertadores, após a derrota por 1 a 0 para o Internacional, o comandante disse que aguarda a definição do caminho a ser seguido pelo Tricolor.

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São dois caminhos, muito bem delimitados pelo treinador.

– Se nós quisermos chegar longe ano que vem, precisamos ter um time mais forte, com mais experiência. Ou assumimos uma condição de que a situação financeira é difícil. E sejamos justos para o torcedor sobre o que precisamos para o ano que vem. Se vamos trazer jogadores para fazer o São Paulo mais forte. E buscar valorização com a conquista de títulos. Ou investimos em jogadores mais jovens e tenhamos objetivos modestos. Independente do que for, tem que haver transparência com a torcida.

Ceni garante que segue no comando seja qual for a escolha. Alega que gosta de trabalhar com jovens, acredita em atletas mais modestos que tenham vontade de mostrar serviço . E que já começará a avaliará esse percurso, se assim for, durante o Campeonato Paulista. Isso mesmo preferindo que haja investimentos.

– É o São Paulo que eu conheço, forte e disputando títulos. E através deles você valoriza a camisa, consegue melhores patrocínios. Mas a decisão é da direção.

Uma coisa, contudo, Ceni vai arregaçar as mangas: promete controle total das decisões a serem tomadas dentro das quatro linhas, como metodologias dos departamentos do CT da Barra Funda e outras escolhas técnicas.

– Se eu ficar, vai ser assim. Ano que vem nós temos que fazer algumas alterações de atletas, percentual máximo de gordura deles… Oproblema é que ninguém quer tomar decisões, porque elas pesam. Na parte técnica elas acontecerão. Porque será comigo. A decisão é minha.

> Confira classificação, jogos e simule resultados do Brasileirão-22
> Conheça o novo aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

رسميًا | الزمالك يُعلن عن صفقة أجنبية جديدة

أعلن نادي الزمالك، برئاسة حسين لبيب، بشكل رسمي، عن أحدث الصفقات المنضمة لصفوف الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالقلعة البيضاء، قبل انطلاق الموسم الجديد.

وكان اتحاد القيد قد أغلق القيد للموسم الجديد بشكل رسمي، في نهاية يوم أمس الأربعاء، بحسب ما حدد في وقت سابق.

وكشف الزمالك، عبر منصاته الرسمية عن التعاقد مع البرازيلي خوان ألفينا بيزيرا لمدة أربعة مواسم قادماً من فريق أوليكساندريا الأوكراني، خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية.

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وأكد الزمالك، أن خوان ألفينا وقع على عقود الانضمام إلى صفوف الأبيض، بعد الاتفاق على كافة التفاصيل الخاصة بالصفقة مع اللاعب ونادي أوليكساندريا الأوكراني.

وتعد تلك الصفقة العاشرة لنادي الزمالك بعد التعاقد مع المهدي سليمان حارس مرمى فريق الاتحاد السكندري السابق لمدة موسمين في صفقة انتقال حر، والأنجولي شيكو بانزا لمدة أربعة مواسم قادماً من نادي إستريلا دا أمادورا البرتغالي.

إلى جانب عمرو ناصر لمدة خمسة مواسم قادمًا من فاركو، وأحمد شريف لمدة خمسة مواسم قادماً من فاركو، والفلسطيني آدم كايد لمدة ثلاثة مواسم في صفقة انتقال حر، والمغربي عبد الحميد معالي لمدة خمسة مواسم قادمًا من نادي اتحاد طنجة.

وضم أيضًا أحمد ربيع لمدة خمسة مواسم من البنك الأهلي، ومحمد إسماعيل لمدة خمسة مواسم من زد، والفلسطيني عدي الدباغ لمدة أربعة مواسم، بجانب تجديد التعاقد مع عبد الله السعيد لاعب الوسط لمدة موسمين.

"القصة انتهت".. زكي عبد الفتاح يوضح تطورات أزمة وسام أبو علي وأموال الأهلي

كشف زكي عبد الفتاح مدرب حراس مرمى منتخب مصر السابق، آخر مستجدات أزمة انتقال وسام أبو علي إلى فريق كولومبوس الأمريكي، بعد رحيله عن صفوف الأهلي خلال فترة الانتقالات الصيفية الماضية.

وكان الأهلي أعلن رسميًا رحيل الفلسطيني وسام أبو علي مهاجم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالقلعة الحمراء، إلى كولومبوس الأمريكي في انتقالات الصيف الحالي، بعد رغبة كبيرة من اللاعب في الرحيل.

طالع أيضًا | غضب عارم في الأهلي بعد تهديدات أحمد عبد القادر

وقال زكي عبد الفتاح في تصريحات عبر برنامج “اللعيب”، على قناة “mbc masr”: “أزمة وسام أبو علي انتهت، والأموال التي سيحصل عليها الأهلي مقابل الصفقة خرجت من رابطة الدوري الأمريكي لكنها لم تُحول حتى الآن نظرًا لبعض الإجراءات وتحويل (فيزا) وسام لـ (فيزا) عمل بدلًا من سياحة”.

وأضاف: “لكن لا أعلم ما إذا كان وسام أبو علي قد حصل على أموال من كولومبوس كرو أم لا، لأن الأوراق الرسمية والرقم القومي لم تنته بعد، والنادي لا يستطيع أن يدفع له أي أموال قبل انتهاء الأوراق بسبب الضرائب”.

واختتم: “التأشيرة وصلت لـ وسام أبو علي، وكانت قد تأخرت بسبب تدخل المباحث الفيدرالية، والأموال قد تكون وصلت الآن لـ الأهلي وأنا أتحدث، الأمر انتهى تمامًا”.

Para buscar o segundo lugar, Fluminense terá que driblar 'pedra no sapato' e quebrar longo jejum

MatériaMais Notícias

O Fluminense segue em ascensão na reta final do Brasileirão e já cravou sua presença na próxima edição da Libertadores. Contudo, a equipe ainda almeja terminar o campeonato entre os três primeiros para bater metas de premiação e ainda tem chance de tomar o vice do Internacional. Para isso, terá que driblar uma ‘pedra no sapato’ histórica e quebrar um longo e incômodo jejum.

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Desde antes da chegada da Red Bull no Massa Bruta, o Tricolor sempre teve muita dificuldade nos duelos em Bragança Paulista. Com isso, oreflexo da enorme desvantagem está nos números, visto que o time carioca jamais derrotou os paulistas, fora de casa, ao longo da história. Em seis partidas, foram quatro triunfos do Braga e dois empates.

+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

Na metade dos anos 80, o futebol paulista foi surpreendido com uma equipe do interior erguendo a taça do Estadual. A Inter de Limeira teve uma campanha surpreendente, em 1986, sob o comando de Pepe, e superou o Palmeiras na decisão. Esse título serviu de inspiração para o melhor momento da história do Bragantino.

Na reta final da década, a família Chedid começou a pavimentar o que se transformaria em título e reconhecimento nacional. Diante deste cenário, a primeira conquista foi em 88, com o acesso à primeira divisão do Estadual. No ano seguinte, surgiu um nome que ficou na história do futebol brasileiro: Vanderlei Luxemburgo.

Por outro lado, o Fluminense vivia em um momento complicado financeiramente mesmo com o título da Copa São Paulo em 1988 e cedeu alguns jovens de seu elenco (oito atletas). Entre eles,Franklin, João Santos, Alberto e Silvio assinaram com o time paulista. Em 89, o Bragantino conquistou a Série B e passou a duelar com as principais equipes do Brasil.

+Fluminense tem a melhor campanha desde o tetra e supera temporadas com mais vitórias no século XXI

Sob o comando de Luxemburgo, surgiram nomes promissores como o de Mauro Silva, que anos mais tarde seria tetracampeão mundial com a Seleção em 1994, nos Estados Unidos. Três anos antes, coube ao clube escrever uma das páginas mais bonitas de sua história e nela está presente o Fluminense.

Semifinal do Brasileirão de 91 e ‘lei do ex’

Após se classificar na vice-liderança da primeira fase, o time paulista sonhava em ser finalista do Brasileirão de 1991 com um ídolo tricolor à beira do campo: Carlos Alberto Parreira. Mas no caminho teria que passar pela trinca de ataque Bobô, Renato Carioca e o saudoso Ézio, que eram comandados por Gilson Nunes.

+Cano vive dias decisivos por recordes e marcas históricas pelo Fluminense

Em um Maracanã lotado de tricolores, cerca de 75 mil, a famosa lei do ex deu o ar da graça. O gol que calou o estádio saiu dos pés de um atleta que passou por todas as categorias das divisões de base do clube carioca desde o futsal: Franklin.

O Bragantino, então, levou uma grande vantagem para o interior paulista. Em casa, empatou por 1 a 1 e carimbou o passaporte para a decisão. Ézio abriu o placar, mas Franklin reapareceu e deixou tudo igual. Na final, o Massa Bruta fez dois jogos competitivos contra o São Paulo, de Telê Santana, que viria a ser campeão mundial no ano seguinte. Mas Mário Tilico fez o gol do tricampeonato do Tricolor.

No fim dos anos 90, ambos os clubes viveram os piores momentos de sua história, mas deram a volta por cima. O time carioca não só voltou como ergueu mais três troféus nacionais (uma Copa do Brasil e dois Brasileiros). Já os paulistas retornaram à primeira divisão após se tornarem clube-empresa (Red Bull).

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Trinta e um anos depois, as equipes se enfrentam, neste domingo, em cenários e momentos diferentes. O Fluminense já se garantiu na Libertadores, enquanto o Bragantino teve um ano irregular, mas ainda sonha em carimbar sua presença na Copa Sul-Americana.

Bartlett makes a massive impact on 'almost not real' Australia debut

“He looked like he belonged,” Shai Hope says of Xavier Bartlett

Alex Malcolm02-Feb-2024

“I’ve just got to keep trying to do my best for Queensland, and if I get an opportunity at the higher level, just try and take it”•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

No one predicted Xavier Bartlett would be playing for Australia this summer. Not even Xavier Bartlett.The fact that he made his debut in an ODI, having not played a 50-over List A game for Queensland since September 2022, makes it even more remarkable. Before the BBL, where he dominated the tournament taking 20 wickets in Brisbane Heat’s title win, Bartlett did not play a single game for Queensland in any format as he was coming off a back injury.But, at the MCG on Friday, he looked like he had been playing international cricket for years as he scythed through West Indies’ top order to claim 4 for 17, the second-best figures by an Australian man on ODI debut.Related

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“It almost feels like it’s not real,” Bartlett said after the match.He admitted he had no thought at the start of the summer, or even during the early part of the BBL, that he was even close to Australia selection.”Oh, definitely not,” Bartlett said. “We’ve got so many great fast bowlers at the moment. Obviously, [Mitchell] Starc, [Josh] Hazlewood and [Pat] Cummins are probably the top three to ever do it for Australia or in that conversation. And then I only really got my chance through Jhye Richardson’s injury and Nathan Ellis was injured as well.”There’s definitely a long list of people in front of me. But I’ve just got to keep trying to do my best for Queensland, and if I get an opportunity at the higher level, just try and take it and just sort of almost learn as much as I can as well along the way.”Despite his BBL success, the thought had dawned on him that he had not played any 50-over cricket since September 2022, which added to his pre-game nerves.”Yeah it did,” Bartlett said. “I spoke to someone on the phone and I was like ‘I haven’t played a 50-over game in like 15 or 16 months’. Yeah, I mean … I don’t know. It just sort of happened so fast.”I was injured at the start of this year and didn’t have a chance to play any domestic cricket, which was a frustrating time. But you can kind of see the light at the end of the tunnel and you’ve just got to keep trying to work hard because these days don’t happen very often in the game of cricket.”Xavier Bartlett was one of Brisbane Heat’s stars in the latest BBL•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

It was serendipitous that Australia’s selector on duty, Tony Dodemaide, had been the one to tell Bartlett he would make his international debut. Dodemaide’s 5 for 21 against Sri Lanka in 1988 remains the best figures on ODI debut by an Australian, but Bartlett was happy to slot in behind him in second spot.”We were sitting in there watching the boys bat and it floated up on the screen,” Bartlett said. “Some of those names, to just be alongside them, it’s pretty cool. [Dodemaide] didn’t say anything. I just had a little picture with him just then.”West Indies captain Shai Hope was one of Bartlett’s four victims, having nicked a good length outswinger to first slip during the powerplay. He had watched footage of Bartlett in the lead-up but was very impressed by the real thing.”He’s shown that he’s got the ability to perform at this level,” Hope said after the match. “Not the quickest, but as we see you don’t need pace to be disruptive. He was very, very consistent. He bowled really well, especially for his first game. He looked like he belonged. We know as a West Indies group we have to find a way to not allow him to settle for the next game.”

فيديو | الزمالك يسقط في فخ التعادل السلبي أمام المقاولون العرب بـ الدوري المصري

وقع الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك، في فخ التعادل السلبي أمام المقاولون العرب، بالمباراة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري.

والتقى الزمالك مع المقاولون العرب، على أرضية استاد القاهرة الدولي، في خضم منافسات الجولة الثانية من مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

وحاول لاعبو الزمالك على مدار اللقاء تسجيل هدف يضمن لهم الثلاث نقاط في بداية مشوار بطولة الدوري، إلا أن الحالة الدفاعية الصلبة لفريق المقاولون العرب حالت دون ذلك.

طالع أيضاً.. أيمن يونس يتغنى بصفقة الزمالك: قد يكون “الحلم”.. وهناك مهارات غير عادية أمام المقاولون

على الجانب الآخر، حاول لاعبو المقاولون العرب استغلال الهجمات المرتدة لتسجيل هدف، إلا أن عدم وجود وفرة عددية في التلت الهجومي لذئاب الجبل، لم يسمح لهم بتشكيل خطورة حقيقية على مرمى الزمالك.

بتلك النتيجة، يحتل الزمالك المركز الرابع في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري برصيد 4 نقاط، بينما يتواجد المقاولون العرب بالمركز السابع عشر، ولديه نقطة. ملخص مباراة الزمالك والمقاولون العرب في الدوري

'In world cricket, we're one of the best bowling outfits' – SL bowling holds key for Hasaranga in World Cup year

Afghanistan, meanwhile, are looking to up their fielding as both teams face off to fine-tune for the showpiece event

Madushka Balasuriya16-Feb-2024

Ibrahim Zadran and Wanindu Hasaranga with the T20I series trophy their teams will be contesting over the next week•AFP/Getty Images

There might be a little over three months left for June’s Men’s T20 World Cup, but for Afghanistan and Sri Lanka that leaves just six competitive fixtures each before the start of the tournament – three of which will take place over the next week, starting on Saturday with the first T20I in Dambulla.This means that any flaws that crop up or game-plan tweaks that need doing take on added significance – essentially, this is the time to perfect your game, there’s not much time left for much else. And for Sri Lanka, team composition will likely take precedence.In the just-concluded ODIs a line-up featuring four frontline bowlers, six batters and Wanindu Hasaranga as a sole allrounder proved to be a winning combination. In T20s though, Sri Lanka have tended to favour more allrounders, with the likes of Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka and Dhananjaya de Silva capable with both bat and ball. With World Cup surfaces in the Caribbean and the USA likely to vary from batting friendly to sometimes slow and low, similar to subcontinental wickets, sides need to be prepared for any eventuality, something captain Hasaranga is cognisant off.”We saw in the ODIs that going in with just one allrounder worked. When we play on good wickets we can play like that. The batters have confidence when they know the wicket is good. In T20s also I would very much like to play like that,” he said on the eve of the first T20I. “Because I bowl four overs [along with his batting], there is also a line of thinking as to whether we need another bowling option or not.”So the plan largely depends on the type of wickets we’re playing on as well; the plan has to suit that. We need to be thinking about the World Cup coming up when playing these games.”Sri Lanka’s last two T20 World Cup outings have been underwhelming, plagued with injuries and general underperformance. While they won a T20 Asia Cup in between, inconsistency in the format has been a recurring theme. When everyone is fit though, Hasaranga is confident that Sri Lanka’s bowling attack in particular measures up with the best in the world.”If you look at world cricket, we’re one of the best teams in terms of bowling outfits. If you look at the rankings, myself and Maheesh [Theekshana] are in the top 10. Dushmantha Chameera was unlucky with his injury, otherwise he’d also be here. But in his place we have Binura [Fernando] who has come in, and there’s also Matheesha [Pathirana] and Nuwan Thushara. We know how good those two are. Dilshan Madushanka is also there.”In terms of bowlers we have quite a few options, so when we come to playing on good tracks – especially T20s – we need to see exactly how to bowl. We’ve bowled on good wickets before, so I think in T20s it’s from the bowlers that you’re going to win matches.”The types of wickets we’re going to play on at the World Cup, there’s a good chance we’ll play on similar wickets during these next six games. With that we’ll be aiming to figure out how we can win a game with our combination of bowlers.”As for Afghanistan, the upcoming World Cup is a chance to build on their growing reputation. Previous appearances have seen them notch up big scalps, while in last years ODI World Cup they registered wins against three former world champions on their way to securing qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy by virtue of finishing in the top eight.With arguably their best format, T20s, now in focus, they’re targeting their best performance yet in a major tournament.”I think lots of people before the World Cup [last year], they didn’t consider Afghanistan a strong side. But what we did, it was a good answer to anyone, especially those people that thought Afghanistan was only a T20 side,” said Afghanistan assistant coach Raees Ahmed. “But as a Full Member we’re working a lot, our players are working hard. The way we performed in the World Cup, we want to continue.”Most of our players are playing in different franchises around the world – we have eight or nine players playing the IPL – so this will help the team. I don’t think Afghanistan will be an easy side to face, I think we could be in the top four or five. Every team will think twice before playing Afghanistan in the World Cup.”An area that they will need to improve quickly though is in their fielding. Across the recent ODI series, Afghanistan were guilty of dropping a spate of catches – many of which in hindsight might have been game-defining.”This is the area that we should work harder in, if you want to beat the stronger sides. It will help the team and give it some nice momentum when you have a strong fielding side. Yes, this is the area that we should be working on a lot. Honestly, we’re far behind as a fielding side. But we have time, we will work on it, and we will cover that weakness.”

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