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Asia's Cricket Giants Square Up Ahead Of World Cup

Asia's cricket giants India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will get a final chance to size each other up before October's 50-over World Cup when the Asia Cup begins on Wednesday. Fiery rivals India and Pakistan could clash as many as three times if they go all the way in the six-nation continental championship. Pakistan and Sri Lanka are co-hosts, a hybrid model agreed after World Cup hosts India refused to tour Pakistan, with the final on September 17 in Colombo.

'I was so disappointed': Arshad Ali recalls UAE's squandered chance at 2008 Asia Cup

Only two players – Rohit Sharma and Mushfiqur Rahim – are still involved from the last time Pakistan staged an Asia Cup, back in 2008.

Are India Favourites For Asia Cup 2023? Pakistan Legend's 'Dangerous' Verdict

Pakistan bowling great Wasim Akram on Sunday said the upcoming Asia Cup will test readiness of subcontinental bowlers for 50-overs cricket ahead of the ODI World Cup, but refused to pick any favourites for the tournament. The Asia Cup begins on Wednesday with Pakistan taking on Nepal in the tournament-opener in Multan, but all eyes are fixed on the mega clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in Kandy on September 2. "Be it India or Pakistan or Sri Lanka, we will find out if the bowlers are able to deliver 10 overs or not, now-a-days they are all used to bowling four-overs (per game)," Akram told reporters here during a tournament sponsor's event.

Fit-Again Najibullah Zadran Returns To Afghanistan Squad For Asia Cup

Middle-order batter Najibullah Zadran returned to Afghanistan's 17-man squad on Sunday ahead of the Asia Cup after recovering from a knee injury. The 30-year-old left-hander had to miss the three-match series against Pakistan which Afghanistan lost 3-0 in Colombo on Saturday. The selection committee hoped Najibullah will be ready for the six-nation event starting in Multan from Wednesday. "Najibullah missed the recently concluded Pakistan series due to a knee injury but has been included and is expected to recover from the injury prior to the start of the event," the Afghanistan Cricket Board said in a statement.

Nepal's Sandeep Lamichhane Rape Trial Delayed, Player Heads To Asia Cup

The rape trial of Nepal's cricket star Sandeep Lamichhane was postponed Sunday, allowing him to join teammates in Pakistan for the upcoming Asia Cup, his lawyer said. Spin bowler Lamichhane, 23, once the poster boy for the rise of cricket in Nepal, is accused of raping a 17-year-old girl in a Kathmandu hotel room in August last year. Lamichhane denies all charges. The latest hearing on Sunday was deferred until September 7, Lamichhane's lawyer Saroj Ghimire said. "Sandeep will now fly to Pakistan to play," Ghimire told AFP.

"When You Achieve No. 1 Position...": Babar Azam Reacts As Pakistan Top ICC ODI Rankings

After leading his team to an ODI series sweep over Afghanistan on Saturday, Pakistan captain Babar Azam said he was hopeful of his team producing 'good' cricket in the upcoming Asia Cup. Pakistan posted a facile 59-run win over their western neighbours at the R Premadasa Stadium in Sri Lanka on Saturday, completing a whitewash of the three-match series. Speaking to media persons after leading his team to the top of the ODI rankings, the Pakistan skipper weighed in on the current dressing room ambience saying that the momentum that they gained during the series whitewash against Afghanistan will stand them in good stead going into the Asia Cup.

Pakistan Whitewash Afghanistan 3-0 To Top ODI rankings

Pakistan rose to the top of the one-day international rankings with a 59-run win against Afghanistan in the third and final match in Colombo on Saturday, claiming a 3-0 series whitewash. Pakistan were helped to 268-8 in 50 overs by a solid 79-ball 67 from Mohammad Rizwan and an 86-ball innings of 60 from skipper Babar Azam. They then dismissed their opponents for 209 in 48.4 overs with number nine Mujeeb Ur Rahman top-scoring for Afghanistan with a 37-ball 64 for his maiden half century. Rahman smashed five sixes and as many boundaries, racing to a new Afghan record for the fastest ODI fifty off just 26 balls before he stepped on to his stump and was out hit wicket off Shaheen Shah Afridi. Rashid Khan was the previous record holder for Afghanistan with a 27-ball fifty against Ireland in Abu Dhabi last year.

Deadlock Persists Over Pakistan Cricket Board's New Contracts Ahead Of Asia Cup

The deadlock between the Pakistan Cricket Board and the national team players over the signing of new central contracts is yet to be resolved ahead of the all-important Asia Cup in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. A well-informed insider in the board on Saturday confirmed that there were still a number of issues to be sorted out and at one stage senior pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi had refused to sign the new central contract after the PCB denied him an NOC for the Emirates T20 International League. "Shaheen got so frustrated at the board's refusal to issue him an NOC that he made it clear it would be best if he didn't sign any contract with the board and played as a freelancer," the insider said.

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Sri Lanka Sport News

Asia's Cricket Giants Square Up Ahead Of World Cup

'I was so disappointed': Arshad Ali recalls UAE's squandered chance at 2008 Asia Cup

Are India Favourites For Asia Cup 2023? Pakistan Legend's 'Dangerous' Verdict

Fit-Again Najibullah Zadran Returns To Afghanistan Squad For Asia Cup

Nepal's Sandeep Lamichhane Rape Trial Delayed, Player Heads To Asia Cup

"When You Achieve No. 1 Position...": Babar Azam Reacts As Pakistan Top ICC ODI Rankings

Pakistan Whitewash Afghanistan 3-0 To Top ODI rankings

Deadlock Persists Over Pakistan Cricket Board's New Contracts Ahead Of Asia Cup