South Africa is set to host the 2024 U-19 World Cup, but David Teeger, the Proteas captain, has stepped down from his role. He stepped down as captain because people were worried about possible protests due to his supportive comments about the Israel Army. Cricket South Africa (CSA) released a statement, stating that Teeger’s presence as captain could lead to unrest among supporters.

Teeger had expressed his support for the Israel Army in late 2023, two weeks after Hamas’ attack on the country during the conflict in Gaza. Despite an investigation into his comments, CSA initially cleared him to play and appointed him captain. However, ahead of the U-19 World Cup, they decided to relieve him of his captaincy due to concerns about potential disruptions.

The tournament was supposed to be in Sri Lanka, but it had to change to South Africa because the ICC suspended the Sri Lanka Cricket Board. The U-19 World Cup will now take place in smaller grounds like Benoni, Potchefstroom, Kimberley, and East London, as South Africa is also currently hosting SA20.

Sri Lanka faced a challenging task of chasing 209 runs to win. The left-arm seamer, Richard Ngarava, created difficulties for the batsmen with his extra bounce, taking the first four Sri Lankan wickets. He ended up taking five wickets for 32 runs, making it his best performance in his career. Despite the early struggles, Sri Lanka managed to recover, thanks to a 56-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Maheesh Theekshana and Liyanage. However, Liyanage fell short of his century by five runs while attempting to clear mid-off. Ngarava’s impressive bowling performance helped Sri Lanka gain some breathing room, and Liyanage’s inclusion in the team for this series was based on his excellent form in domestic cricket.

His 95 came off 127 deliveries with six fours and two sixes. “I wanted get to the hundred but was disappointed,” he said.

When Liyanage got out, Sri Lanka needed 37 runs with two wickets left. Jeffrey Vandersay (19) and Dushmantha Chameera (18) successfully chased the target, adding an unbroken 39 runs for the ninth wicket. Rain caused a delay of more than an hour during the Sri Lankan innings, but the game continued without reducing the overs. Spin bowler Sikandar Raza supported Ngarava, taking two wickets for 32 runs in his 10 overs, but the other bowlers didn’t provide enough support. Zimbabwe chose to bat first, and captain Craig Ervine scored the highest with 82 runs. Sadeera Samarawickrama’s one-handed diving catch at extra cover dismissed Ervine, leading to Zimbabwe’s struggle. From 182 for four, Zimbabwe collapsed, losing the last six wickets for 26 runs, and ended up with a total of 209 all out. Theekshana took four wickets, while Chameera and Vandersay claimed two wickets each.

Ervine called it a “well fought game” and was “proud” of his bowlers. “We have one more game and we need to look at squaring the series,” he said.

Sri Lanka is ahead in the three-match series with a 1-0 lead. The first game on Saturday was canceled due to rain, and there’s a chance of bad weather affecting the upcoming match on Thursday at the same venue.

The team will be in Colombo for the ODI series, playing all matches at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium. After that, they’ll head to Dambulla for the T20Is. Following this, the Blue Tigers will move to the UAE, hosting Ireland from February 28 to March 18. During this period, they will play a Test match and three white-ball format matches. The Test match will take place at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi, while the white-ball series will be held in Sharjah. The ODIs are scheduled for March 7, 9, and 12, and the T20Is will begin on March 15. Naseeb Khan, CEO of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, believes that these series, along with the upcoming trip to India, will strengthen the team for future challenges, including the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA in June.

“The year 2024 is a very busy and full of high-voltage competitions for the Afghanistan national team”, Naseeb began.

“The upcoming tours of India, Sri Lanka, and then the home series against Ireland will help us to prepare the team for the much-important T20 World Cup. (We’re) eagerly looking forward to the multiple series.”

Afghanistan’s T20I tour of India starts on January 11 in Mohali.

Kusal Mendis is the new ODI captain, taking over from Dasun Shanaka. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has made eight changes to the World Cup squad, including the return of Avishka Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, and Akila Dananjaya. Aantha Mendis, the former spinner and current selector, highlighted Dananjaya’s recent success in taking wickets and stressed the importance of having backup plans for spin-bowling.

“In the last couple of seasons, Akila Dananjaya has been picking up wickets, and we also need a backup plan for the likes of Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga,” said Ajantha.”

In a recent update, SLC chief selector Upul Tharanga revealed that Dhananjaya de Silva is the new captain of the Sri Lanka Test team, taking over from Dimuth Karunaratne.

Squad:

Kusal Mendis (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Janith Liyanage,Sadeera Samarawickrama,Charith Asalanka,  Sahan Arachchige, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dasun Shanaka,  Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka,  Dunith Wellalage,Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Wanindu Hasaranga (subject to fitness)Jeffrey Vandersay, Akila Dananjaya.

Craig Ervine, who missed the home series against Ireland in December due to injury, is back to lead the ODI side, while Sikandar Raza will captain the T20I side. The squad includes uncapped Tapiwa Mufudza, selected by caretaker coach Walter Chawaguta following Dave Houghton’s departure last month. Mufudza, an off-spinner, earned his place with consistently impressive performances in domestic cricket in Zimbabwe.

Pace bowler Faraz Akram, primarily a T20 player, is set to make his ODI debut. In the T20I matches in Colombo, Mufudza, Akram, and Takudzwanashe Kaitano are replaced by Brian Bennett, Carl Mumba, and Ainsley Ndlovu. The ODI matches are scheduled for January 6, 8, and 11, and the T20I matches for January 14, 16, and 18.

Squads:
ODI

Craig Ervine (capt),Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Clive Madande, Wellington Masakadza, Tapiwa Mufudza, Tony Munyonga, Milton Shumba ,Faraz Akram, Blessing Muzarabani,Joylord Gumbie, Richard Ngarava, Sikandar Raza,

T20I
Sikandar Raza (capt), Ryan Burl,Brian Bennett, Craig Ervine, Joylord Gumbie, Luke Jongwe, Clive Madande, Milton Shumba ,Wellington Masakadza, Carl Mumba, Tony Munyonga, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Blessing Muzarabani, Ainsley Ndlovu, Richard Ngarava.

In early 2025, Australia will compete against Sri Lanka in the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy. Winning this trophy is essential for Australia as it will determine their qualification for the World Test Championship final later in the year.

“I’m quite understanding the circumstances of the current side. They’re playing some really good cricket, they’re World Test champions,” Maxwell said.

“There’s not a lot of spots up for grabs as far as Tests at home, but I know that when it does come to a sub-continent tour I can be a real viable option to hopefully fill a role in that side,”

“I don’t think there’s another sub-continent tour until early 2025. So, I’ll keep trying to plug away and hopefully get an opportunity at that stage,”

Meanwhile, Maxwell avoided getting involved in the dispute between Mitchell Johnson and David Warner. Instead, he chose to give a positive endorsement for his fellow World Cup winner.

“I’m not going to throw my name into some headlines about this,” Maxwell said.

“But Davey’s been an absolute champion of Australian cricket for a long period of time and the selectors were pretty clear on what they thought of it (selecting him). I’m looking forward to seeing Davey in that first Test and him making a lot of runs this summer,” he added.

In mid-2024, amidst the challenges faced by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and its broadcaster, there is a positive note as the Indian cricket team is set to embark on its annual tour of the island. Despite SLC’s ICC ban due to government interference and the relocation of the U-19 World Cup to South Africa, both the men’s and women’s national teams are allowed to fulfill their scheduled matches. As per the 2024 calendar, India will engage in a brief six-match white-ball series, comprising three ODIs and T20Is each, in July and August—the country’s cricket season.

In the upcoming year, the men’s national team has a packed schedule of 52 international games, involving 10 Tests, 21 ODIs, and 21 T20Is. It’s worth noting that this T20I count does not include additional games during the T20 World Cup. Notable challenges include a three-Test series in England as part of the World Test Championship and a two-Test series against South Africa in November.

Monday saw the iridescent Angelo Mathews, the gifted all-rounder of Sri Lanka, unleash a thunderous torrent of dismay and contempt upon Bangladesh’s audacious act of removing him through the unorthodox employment of a ‘time out’; a move deemed detestable and profoundly startling. In the midst of a World Cup clash enveloped in noxious air; Bangladesh emerged triumphant with a three-wicket win, effectively eliminating Sri Lanka from the competition. In a groundbreaking occurrence that etched his name in the annals of international cricket, Mathews achieved the unprecedented feat of becoming the first batsman to be timed out; a truly remarkable milestone indeed.

Mathews oh, the epitome of righteousness and virtue made it painfully clear that he had not, under any circumstances, engaged in any misdeeds. Nay, dear friends, he had ardently and exhaustively dedicated himself to the arduous task of meticulously preparing within the minuscule span of two measly minutes. Oh, what a fervent display of his unyielding diligence! Nevertheless, an anomalous malfunction of the cranial protective apparatus fastening mechanism spawned the ensuing tumult. In a scathing commentary, he expressed his utter disappointment with the dearth of rationality apparent in Bangladesh’s decision; labeling it as both “absolutely disgraceful” and a woeful deviation from the essence of fair play.

The aforementioned event transpired during the 25th over subsequent to the departure of Sadeera Samarawickrama; however, Mr. Mathews encountered difficulties in assuming his batting position owing to the malfunctioning of his protective headgear’s fastening mechanism. Against all odds amidst the desperate pleas of Mathews echoing through the stadium the resolute umpires clung steadfastly to their ruling, unswayed by Bangladesh’s heartfelt appeal. The final duel culminated in a breathtaking silence an absence of the ceremonial clasp, a tragic void that underscored the simmering tension between the rival factions.

In a display of utmost gravity and with a thunderous voice that could awaken the very gods of sportsmanship, Mathews vehemently emphasized the significance of respect within the sacred realm of the game a pillar upon which the integrity of cricket stands tall. Yet, with a mournful shaking of his head, he bemoaned the ill-fated conduct of Shakib and the Bangladesh team a sorrowful betrayal that struck like a piercing arrow through the heart of fair play.
He with utmost conviction made it abundantly clear that he possessed a treasure trove of visual proofs to fortify his stance, encompassing the precise moment when the majestic catch was snatched and the ensuing moments of lingering suspense as he languidly approached the sacred crease.

Shakib, the esteemed helmsman of the Bangladeshi team, vehemently upheld the legitimacy of the appeal, asserting its conformance with the established regulations, hence expressing absolute absence of remorse. He made reference to the fact that one of their fielders had brought to their attention the infraction concerning the temporal parameter. When the ethereal essence of cricket was subjects to inquiry, Shakib, with his profound wisdom, opined that should the need arise for the alteration of cricket’s sacred ordinances, it shall be the onus of the illustrious International Cricket Council the guardian of this sacred realm to extend their divine hand of authority. In a daring act of plea, Mathews ventured towards Shakib, desperately urging him to rescind the appeal a plea that seemed to hang in the balance of fate itself. But alas, Shakib, steadfast and unwavering, clung to the codes of the game with unyielding resolve an embodiment of the spirit that binds competitors on this hallowed field of battle.

During a key match at the Cricket World Cup 2023, Sri Lankan cricketer Angelo Mathews faced an unusual situation. He was declared ‘timed out’ while playing against Bangladesh in Delhi. The incident occurred in the 25th over, when Bangladesh’s captain, Shakib al Hasan, bowled the second ball. Angelo Mathews came to the crease after a teammate was dismissed, but he soon realized he had the wrong helmet. He explained the situation to the Bangladesh players and the umpires.

A substitute from Sri Lanka eventually brought the correct helmet, but by that time, Bangladesh had already appealed for a ‘timed out.’ According to the MCC rules, after a wicket falls or a batter retires, the incoming batter must be ready to face the ball or for the other batter to face the next ball within 3 minutes. If this time limit is not met, the incoming batter is declared ‘timed out.’

However, in the Cricket World Cup 2023’s specific playing conditions, incoming batters are expected to be ready within 2 minutes. If they exceed this time limit, they are also declared ‘timed out.’

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Russel Arnold, who was providing commentary during the match, expressed that he had never seen such a situation before.