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The mayors of Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire have urged the ECB to reconsider its allocation of men’s Ashes Tests for 2027, which will see the north of England overlooked.Ben Stokes, England’s captain, said before the ongoing fourth Test at Emirates Old Trafford that he was “devastated” that none of the five Tests would be staged north of the River Trent, with Lord’s, the Kia Oval, the Ageas Bowl, Edgbaston and Trent Bridge chosen as the host venues.Andy Burnham (Greater Manchester) and Tracy Brabin (West Yorkshire) have now written an open letter to the ECB, describing the allocation of venues as “remarkable” and criticising the fact that London “consistently hosts three Tests every summer”.Related

• Ageas Bowl to host its maiden Men's Ashes Test in 2027

• England players 'disappointed' at lack of northern venues for 2027 Ashes

“We are writing to you to express our disappointment at the English Cricket Board’s announcement of match venues for the men’s Ashes in 2027,” the mayors wrote. “As you know, there will be no men’s Ashes Test in the north of England in 2027 – meaning that this week at Old Trafford will be the last men’s Ashes Test played in the North of England until 2031.”Headingley and Old Trafford are two of England’s most iconic cricket grounds, and home to historic Ashes moments from Ian Botham’s heroics in 1981 to Ben Stokes’ own ‘Miracle of Headingley’ in 2019. Very few grounds attract support as passionate or indeed as diverse as Headingley and Old Trafford – as a number of England players themselves have acknowledged in recent days.”We understand that the ECB’s criteria for awarding Test matches includes maximising attendances and ensuring a geographic spread of matches. It feels even more remarkable therefore that an area so passionate about cricket, with a population of over 15 million people, misses out on a men’s Ashes Test in 2027 whilst the south hosts three.”It does not feel right that at a time when cricket needs to do more to spread interest in the game around the country that London consistently hosts three Tests every summer. Next year, for example, Lord’s hosts one third of England men’s Tests whilst Headingley doesn’t get any.”The rivalry between Lancashire and Yorkshire within cricket is legendary, but this is an issue that unites both sides of the Pennines. We urge you to think again and ensure people in the north of England get the opportunity to witness more iconic Ashes moments in 2027.”Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, rings the bell at Emirates Old Trafford on the third morning•Stu Forster/Getty Images

Stokes said on the eve of the Old Trafford Test that England tend to perform well in the north due to the level of support they receive from crowds. “I’m a bit devastated that there won’t be any Ashes cricket here in 2027 in the north. It’s a shame,” he said. “I don’t make those calls, but if I was involved, I would have said, ‘please keep at least one game in the north’. I think it’s always a loud atmosphere here. You know the crowds we get in the north – and I say the north quite bluntly there – is very good. We get a lot of support.”Mark Wood and Jack Leach had previously expressed their own “surprise” and “disappointment” around the choice of venues, with Leach suggesting that by playing primarily in the south, England were not making the most of their home advantage.Headingley is due to host a women’s Ashes Test in 2027, and both Headingley and Old Trafford are due to stage men’s Ashes Tests in 2031.Andy Anson, Lancashire’s chair, said that the club were “entirely comfortable” with the ECB’s process of awarding matches, as well as the opportunity host more women’s internationals in coming years.”We are entirely comfortable with the process that the club went through with the ECB regarding the major match allocation package for future men’s and women’s internationals between 2025-31,” Anson said. “The announced package provides the club with seven years of certainty for international match scheduling which will see 40 days of international cricket played at the venue. The package is the result of in-depth discussions between the counties and the ECB and has been a thorough and fair process.”As well as the men’s Ashes Test in 2031, we will also be welcoming India for four matches in five years, in addition to hosting international women’s cricket at Emirates Old Trafford for the first time in many years – which we all look forward to. We are grateful to the ECB and our fellow counties for the level of cooperation and communication in arriving at this schedule.”

While Jordan Henderson’s cameo last night provided Liverpool with a burst of nostalgia, more eyes would have been on Curtis Jones as he started in the centre of Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions squad.

It was a routine victory, England seeing off Albania 2-0 through goals from debutant Myles Lewis-Skelly and record-extending goalscorer Harry Kane, who marked cap number 104 with goal number 70.

Jones has been a steady presence in the England camp since making his debut in the Autumn. He scored in that one, against Greece.

Curtis Jones’ Performance vs Albania

Match Stats

#

Minutes played

74′

Touches

105

Shots (on target)

1 (0)

Accurate passes

94/99 (95%)

Key passes

1

Possession lost

7x

Dribbles

1/2

Tackles

1

Duels won

3/7

Stats via Sofascore

What a rise for Liverpool’s academy graduate. Like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jones has become a star for club and country, but not all among the Reds youth succeed in reaching such heights.

There’s no question that Trent is the finest talent Liverpool have produced since Steven Gerrard inspired a city, and Liverpool would do well to find an even brighter star in the coming years.

Saying that, the current crop is looking rather healthy.

Liverpool's academy development

Liverpool’s talent factory has made significant progress over the past several years, but it wasn’t always the case. Before Jurgen Klopp, Kirkby prospects of genuine quality were few and far between.

But the German’s final years at the helm saw a stunning influx, Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah becoming regular features last term to join the existing stars in Alexander-Arnold and Jones.

The success, of course, culminated in ‘Klopp’s Kids’ playing an instrumental role in lifting the 2023/24 Carabao Cup. Now, the Anfield side boasts rich youth ranks with the likes of Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha leading the next generation’s charge.

This new crop are great and all, but Trent led the way for this academy revival on Merseyside. Pickings had been slim beforehand, but there was another who was expected to be part of that trend-setting group as a homegrown superstar.

However, it hasn’t happened for this Redman, who is now clubless aged 27.

The Liverpool prospect who was ahead of Trent

The man in question here actually burst onto the scene before Alexander-Arnold, but he’s since plummeted into the depths of the game, barely playing any football over the past three years.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

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Who remembers Ovie Ejaria? Once among the cream of Liverpool’s academy crop, the midfielder has endured a tough career that threatens a bleakly premature conclusion.

He made eight competitive appearances for Liverpool during the 2016/17 season, earning praise from then-academy coach Michael Beale.

“Ovie has developed so much since he joined the academy,” Beale said. “He has always been a lovely technical player but now he is much more mature in his decision-making and in his application to his defensive duties.”

Alexander-Arnold might be one of the world’s best right-backs, but he was principally found in midfield before breaking onto the scene in 2017.

Sharing the role with Ejaria, jostling for space and prominence, it’s safe to say the 26-year-old won, but given Ejaria actually got a chance before his one-time teammate, things could have been so different.

Once a titan of Liverpool’s youth scene, Ejaria ebbed away across a loan and then permanent stay with Reading, making a total of 127 displays in blue and white, notching 22 goal involvements.

Since leaving the League One club, he’s done very little, going on trial with Egyptian Premier League club Zamalek in October 2024. Sadly, nothing appears to have come of the audition.

Considering the former England U21 international’s fortunes since leaving Liverpool, it’s rather good business that Klopp and FSG managed to claim £3m when he left for Reading.

For a player who was once held in such high regard, emerging at the start of Klopp’s dynasty before the superstars of today took their first steps, it’s a shame things haven’t worked out.

But it also serves as a reminder that Liverpool have come on leaps and bounds over the past decade.

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Rain frustrates Lancashire as hosts hope to escape with draw after chastening day two

Paul Edwards22-Apr-2023

Keaton Jennings made 189 before retiring hurt with a torn hamstring•Getty Images

Wickets, which retains its status as the best breakfast shop on the circuit, seemed to be thronged with Lancastrians this morning. “Hope you enjoyed yesterday,” was the general tenor of their conversation and you can imagine the sort of response that might have received from Somerset supporters with the scoreboard informing us that the visitors were 302 for 1. Even more to the point, Keaton Jennings was unbeaten on 124 having taken his aggregate in two innings against one of his favourite opponents to 442.There was, therefore, every good reason for the locals to be gloomy before play began and even the omens were hardly propitious. For example, it was Emergency Services Day at the County Ground, which seemed something of an overreaction to the home team’s unimpressive draw and its loss at Trent Bridge. But maybe seeing Jack Leach hit for five sixes and going for 103 runs in 17 overs had decided things.And so cricket, like the lovely old witch she is, served up two sessions to pickle expectations. After a day on which the fall of a single Lancashire wicket seemed a rude aberration, the visitors lost nine batsmen, eight of them to the bowlers and the other to a torn hamstring which Jennings suffered when completing a single at around 12.30pm and which the ministrations of physio, Sam Byrne, could not calm. Luke Wells came out to serve as runner but it turned out that Jennings could not complete the most gentle of defensive shots without pain. After facing two balls from Leach, he hobbled off for the day with 189 high-quality runs against his name.This mattered partly because it occurred in the 80th over. Four deliveries after Jennings had left the field, Tom Abell took the new ball and Lewis Gregory bowled an excellent over with it. His first delivery shaded away from Dane Vilas, who nicked a catch to James Rew; his fourth had Colin de Grandhomme driving loosely but only edging another catch to the keeper. At this point, Somerset supporters could see Lancashire batters leaving the field with pleasingly unexpected regularity and with the score reading 413 for very few, the locals didn’t give a monkey’s what had prompted their departures. There are times when you pick apples from the tree and times when they drop of their own accord but they all go into the pie.The day got better for Somerset’s seamers and better for Rew, who had taken six catches and dropped none by the time Lancashire were bowled out for 554. Yes, a deficit of 113 left them on the sharp end of affairs but it was rather better than had seemed probable when Jennings, Wells and Josh Bohannon were scampering along at six an over on Friday afternoon. The cloudy conditions helped, of course, but so did the simple common sense of Gregory and Peter Siddle, who shared six wickets by keeping the ball up to the bat. For the plain truth was that the bowlers who stuck to the disciplines of line and length on or around off stump enjoyed success. That probably sounds like something one might have found in when E W Swanton was in the pulpit but it happens to be the bald truth. Having made 85, Bohannon had been beaten when fencing at Siddle and George Balderson was to depart when cutting at Gregory half an hour after lunch. George Bell made a pleasing 36 before falling to Siddle but Lancashire’s innings was now composed of such modest contributions and the change in tempo after Friday’s carnage was obvious, even to those spectators getting stuck into the cider on Thatchers TerraceThe weather was closing in as well. Russell Warren and Richard Illingworth took the players off in mid-afternoon and we needed folklore to help us weigh up the likelihood of a resumption. One local made use of St James’ weather vane, a Taunton pavilion and a range of local hills: “If the cock’s arse is facing the Colin Atkinson and you can’t see the Blackdowns, you can put your feet up for a couple of hours,” he said.. The first of these conditions was met in mid-afternoon in Taunton but not quite the second, so we came back for the one ball that Leach needed to bowl James Anderson, who was trying to reverse sweep.It would be eleven overs before the rain returned and that brief session brought further comfort to Somerset. Rather than lose their top order to Anderson and Tom Bailey, as they had done on Thursday morning, they reached what became close of play without mishap, Tom Lammonby batted competently, as the locals know he can, and Sean Dickson made an unbeaten 15 which might seem like manna to him after scores of 5, 0, 0 and 14. At the very least, home supporters can arrive at the County Ground on the final morning with reason to hope their team can avoid a second defeat in three games. The rest of us will have to be mummy’s little soldiers and cope with the fact that Wickets doesn’t open on Sundays.

Tom Curran is expected to miss the start of the T20 Blast after being diagnosed with a stress fracture of the lower back for the second year in a row.Curran announced in February that he would take an indefinite break from red-ball cricket, saying that prioritising white-ball cricket was “the right decision for my body and for my mental health”.But earlier this month, while playing in the Pakistan Super League, he reported pain in his lower back and scans upon his return to the UK revealed another stress fracture.”Tom Curran returned early from the Pakistan Super League and scans have shown he has suffered a stress fracture of the lumbar spine,” Surrey, his county, said in a statement.The club did not put a timeframe on Curran’s return, saying: “Tom will be out for a period of time whilst he recovers and undergoes rehabilitation at Surrey.”ESPNcricinfo understands that he is considered a doubt for the start of the Blast on May 20, and may miss the competition altogether depending on his timeframe.He was also recently retained by Oval Invincibles on a £100,000 contract in the Hundred, which starts on August 1.Curran, who recently turned 28, has played 60 times for England across all formats but has slipped down the pecking order at international level. His most recent appearances in ODI and T20I cricket came in July 2021.He has spent the first two months of the year playing overseas, first for Desert Vipers in the inaugural edition of the ILT20 and then for Islamabad United in the PSL.

حُسمت هوية طرفي مباراة نهائي دوري الأمم الأوروبية 2025، بعد انطلاق منافسات نصف نهائي البطولة مساء يوم الأربعاء والخميس.

والتقى البرتغال مع نظيره ألمانيا في نصف نهائي دوري الأمم الأوروبية، مساءً الأربعاء، في اللقاء الذي أقيم على ملعب “أليانز أرينا”.

طالع | موعد والقناة الناقلة لمباراة إسبانيا والبرتغال اليوم في نهائي دوري الأمم الأوروبية.. والمعلق

ونجح منتخب البرتغال في التأهل إلى نهائي دوري الأمم الأوروبية عقب فوزه على ألمانيا بهدفين مقابل هدف.

من جهة أخرى، واجه منتخب إسبانيا خصمه منتخب فرنسا، في نصف نهائي دوري الأمم الأوروبية، مساءً الخميس، في اللقاء الذي أقيم على ملعب “مرسيدس بنز أرينا”.

وتأهل منتخب إسبانيا إلى الدور ذاته وذلك بعدما تخطى منتخب فرنسا في مباراة مثيرة انتهت بنتيجة 5/4 لصالح المنتخب الإسباني. موعد مباراة إسبانيا والبرتغال في نهائي دوري الأمم الأوروبية 2025

ستُقام مباراة نهائي دوري الأمم الأوروبية، بين إسبانيا والبرتغال، يوم الأحد 8 يونيو الجاري على ملعب “أليانز آرينا” في مدينة ميونيخ الألمانية، في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت القاهرة ومكة المكرمة.

An Aston Villa update has surfaced on the possibility of Marcus Rashford joining Unai Emery beyond this campaign, with Manchester United hatching an intriguing plan for the £300,000-per-week winger.

Marcus Rashford earns Aston Villa praise after promising start

After falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford, with Ruben Amorim even criticising Rashford’s commitment, the big-name Englishman has so far displayed flashes of his best form since joining the club on loan in January.

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Rashford made his debut for Villa in a centre-forward role in the FA Cup against Tottenham, and impressed after coming off the bench during Villa’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich in the Premier League. The 27-year-old was then handed his first start in their 2-2 draw against Liverpool earlier this week, standing out as their best performer on the night by virtue of his average match rating, according to WhoScored.

While he is yet to register his first goal or assist under Emery, his direct and exciting displays indicate that it is only a matter of time.

“Marcus Rashford and Asensio, we watched their skill and how they helped us and will help us again in the next months in the different competitions we will face,” said Emery on Rashford.

“We are in a new way after the changes we did. We are demanding because we still need to improve due to some tactical issues and how we want to compete in the Premier League.”

Meanwhile, his teammate Morgan Rogers has also explained what a joy it is to have Rashford at Villa.

“It pushes us along, we want to take what we can from the experienced players in the squad,” said Rogers on Rashford.

“It’s massive to have people like that in the building, and hopefully we can just push each other. The second goal was important, we played well, but we hadn’t killed the game off.”

Aston Villa handed update on Marcus Rashford signing permanently

Villa have a £40m option-to-buy Rashford at the end of his loan deal, but according to reporter Jacque Talbot, the prospects of NSWE triggering it are slim amid United’s own summer transfer plans.

It is thought that Villa’s financial issues mean there is uncertainty surrounding Rashford’s long-term future, and as things stand, it is more likely that he returns to Manchester.

That is because United are hatching their own transfer plan for the forward, with Talbot claiming Amorim’s side are planning to use Rashford as a makeweight in potential swap deal talks to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Aleksandar Pavlović.

Villa take on Chelsea today in the Premier League, and it is likely that Emery will utilise the attacker at some point as he looks to get the very best out of his new arrival during his brief stay in Birmingham.

Mathys Tel to Tottenham Hotspur was perhaps the most dramatic story of the winter transfer window, filled with twists and turns, and it has now been revealed that Spurs legend Harry Kane played a pivotal role.

Tottenham seal last-gasp deadline day deal for Mathys Tel

Last week, news came to light that Tel rejected a move to Tottenham, despite chairman Daniel Levy flying to Munich and holding talks with the Frenchman.

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In what was a public snubbing of the club’s advances, that appeared to be the end of Ange Postecoglou’s hopes of landing Tel, but in a sensational deadline day twist, the teenager pulled a very late U-turn.

Man United (home)

February 16th

Ipswich Town (home)

February 22nd

Man City (home)

February 26th

Bournemouth (home)

March 9th

Fulham (away)

March 16th

This is thought to be largely down to the Lilywhites manager, who personally rang the 19-year-old and convinced him to make the move after all – with Spurs sealing a loan deal with an option to buy for around £50 million.

L’Equipe reporter Loic Tanzi, via The Spurs Express, shared just how Postecoglou did manage to tempt Tel with a Tottenham transfer.

“Daniel Levy flew to Munich last week because Johan Lange feared that his meeting and presentation with Mathys Tel didn’t have the desired impact,” said Tanzi.

“After meeting with Levy, Tel communicated that he wasn’t going to join Spurs. It was as much about showing that he wouldn’t be forced into something by Bayern as it was about not being convinced by Spurs. Sunday evening, Ange Postecoglou spoke with Tel over the phone. Postecoglou put forward how he planed to use Tel, expressed how much he valued Tel’s versatility and speed, and expressed that he thought Tel could torment Premier League defences with his qualities.

“It was a long and concrete speech, and it ‘scored points’ with Tel, who appreciated the coach focusing on his plans for him on the pitch, as opposed to the ‘project’ that the management tried to sway him with. Monday morning, the player decided he was going to Tottenham.”

Tottenham also held talks to sign Southampton’s Tyler Dibling, but eventually cooled their interest in the Premier League forward and landed on an unexpected, last-gasp agreement for Tel in a serious boost for Postecoglou.

Mathys Tel reveals Harry Kane role in transfer to Tottenham

Now, speaking to the club’s official website, as transcribed by The Daily Mail, the France Under-21 international has also shared the exact words Kane said to him which helped to push him towards N17.

In a sit down with Tottenham’s all-time top goalscorer, Kane apparently endorsed the size of the club, their fantastic facilities and how many useful people there are behind-the-scenes – with the England star’s “positive” message also helping to convince Tel.

“He told me this is a big club with a lot of very good people,” said Tel. “The pitch is very nice, the training centre is very good and if you go there you can enjoy it. Everything was positive from Harry Kane.”

The versatile young attacker scored 10 goals and bagged a further six assists in all competitions last season, with Postecoglou hoping he can replicate those numbers in England.

يُصر نادي الهلال السعودي، على التعاقد مع البرتغالي برونو فرنانديز، قائد فريق مانشستر يونايتد الإنجليزي.

ويرتبط برونو فرنانديز بعقد مع مانشستر يونايتد يمتد حتى يونيو 2027، ويعد عنصرًا رئيسيًا في تشكيل الفريق.

الهلال سبق وتقدم بمحاولات للتفاوض لضم برونو، وعرض عقدًا مغريًا لمدة ثلاث سنوات لقائد مانشستر يونايتد، لكن تم رفض العرض مرتين.

وأشارت تقارير إلى أن المفاوضات السابقة تمت عن طريق فهد بن نافل، رئيس نادي الهلال، والذي التقى بوكيل أعمال برونو فرنانديز، ميجيل روبن، ومحاميه كايتانو ماريا.

اقرأ أيضًا | الهلال السعودي ينتظر رد لاعبه بعد عرض التجديد

وبحسب ما ذكرت صحيفة “ميرور” البريطانية، يُخطط مسؤولو الهلال لعقد اجتماع ثالث مع ممثلي برونو فرنانديز.

ويرفض مانشستر يونايتد رحيل برونو عن صفوف الفريق، وهو ما أعلنه المدير الفني روبن أموريم مؤخرًا.

ومع ذلك، يصمم الهلال على موقفه، ويخطط لعقد اجتماع ثالث مع وكلاء برونو فرنانديز، وهم على استعداد للاستماع بشأن مطالب الرواتب المحتملة للبرتغالي.

وأفاد التقرير أن الهلال يخطط أيضًا لمفاوضات مع برونو جيمارايش، قائد نيوكاسل يونايتد، ويوري تيليمانس، نجم أستون فيلا، إذا لم ينجح في حسم صفقة فرنانديز.

The 12 Full Members will play a total of 777 international matches between 2023 and 2027, compared to 694 in the current FTP cycle

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Aug-2022Despite the rapid and ongoing expansion of T20 leagues around the world, there is an increase in the amount of bilateral international cricket scheduled in the new ICC men’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) for the next four years. This includes two Border-Gavaskar series – Test cricket’s headline rivalry of the last decade or so – between Australia and India that will, for the first time in over 30 years, be contested over five Tests.The ICC released the 2023-27 FTP on Wednesday, in which the 12 Full Members play a total of 777 international matches – 173 Tests, 281 ODIs and 323 T20Is – compared to the 694 games in the current cycle.Bangladesh play the most bilateral international games (150) in the new FTP, followed by West Indies (147), England (142), India (141), New Zealand (135), Australia (132), Sri Lanka (131), Pakistan (130), Afghanistan (123), South Africa (113), Ireland (110) and Zimbabwe (109).Related

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In terms of T20Is, West Indies play the most bilateral matches (73) followed by India (61), Afghanistan (57), Bangladesh (57), New Zealand (57), Pakistan (56), Sri Lanka (54), England (51), Australia (49), Ireland (47), South Africa (46) and Zimbabwe (45).Bangladesh also play the most bilateral ODIs (59), followed by Sri Lanka (52), Ireland (51), England (48), West Indies (48), Pakistan (47), New Zealand (46), Afghanistan (45), Zimbabwe (44), Australia (43), India (42) and South Africa (39).In Test cricket, England play the most matches (43), followed by Australia (40), India (38), Bangladesh (34), New Zealand (32), South Africa (28), Pakistan (27), West Indies (26), Sri Lanka (25), Afghanistan (21), Zimbabwe (20), Ireland (12).The first five-Test Border-Gavaskar series will take place during the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, when India tour Australia in the Australian summer of 2024-25. Australia then tour India during the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle for five Tests in January-February 2027. India also play two five-Test series against England – at home in early 2024 and away in 2025. As has been the case for the last few FTPs, there is no bilateral series between India and Pakistan.ESPNcricinfo LtdTri-series between Full Members are also set to make a comeback, with Pakistan hosting New Zealand and South Africa in an ODI tri-series in February 2025, Zimbabwe hosting New Zealand and South Africa for T20Is in July 2025, and Pakistan hosting England and Sri Lanka for an ODI tri-series in October-November 2026.There is also an extended window for the IPL, during which very little international cricket has been scheduled, from the middle of March right through to the start of June every year between 2023 and 2027. England and Australia have also created windows in August and January, respectively, in their own international schedules, to allow their marquee white-ball players to participate in the Hundred and the BBL. Bangladesh has done likewise with a window for the BPL in January, during which it plays no international cricket in this FTP.In 2025, the PSL will become the first T20 league to overlap with the IPL because of Pakistan’s packed international season. Starting November 2024, Pakistan have away tours of Australia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and New Zealand, before returning home for a tri-series in February 2025, followed by the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan that ends in March. The PSL will begin only after the Champions Trophy ends, leading to a clash with the IPL.There will also be an ICC men’s event every year of this cycle – the first time that has happened since the 2011-2015 FTP – starting with the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA, the 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan, the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, and the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Prabath Jayasuriya picked up four wickets but found little support from Sri Lanka’s other bowlers

Andrew Fidel Fernando20-Jul-2022A tense final morning, in which Pakistan had 120 to get with seven wickets in hand, began with the closest call. Mohammad Rizwan, coming forward to a Prabath Jayasuriya delivery, saw the ball slip between bat and pad before passing within a couple of centimetres of the off bail.There were plenty of other moments to fray Pakistani nerves. In the third over, Abdullah Shafique was hit on the back leg by Jayasuriya, raising a voracious lbw appeal. Sri Lanka reviewed the not-out decision, but the ball was shown to be climbing over the stumps. Several overs later, once Pakistan had whittled the requirement down to double figures, another Jayasuriya ball that passed Rizwan’s outside edge prompted another big appeal, and another burned review.When he was on 128, Shafique thought a ball that erupted from a length and beat the keeper had gone towards the boundary, and began to take off for a run, before hastily turning back. Had Dhananjaya de Silva, who had caught that ball at slip, connected with his shy at the stumps, Shafique would have been out.And then there was the rain. A large black cloud parked itself over the stadium when Pakistan had about 25 to get. Not willing to let his almost 400-ball innings end in a rain-affected draw, Shafique came down the pitch and tried to launch Dhananjaya de Silva over deep midwicket, and only ended up skying it to Kasun Rajitha, who came in a few metres off the boundary and dropped it.But through all this, though three wickets fell, and though Pakistan had to scrap for the last 40 runs, Shafique’s continued presence meant that they always had the chase in hand. He largely batted on day five much like he had the previous day – watchfully, strategically, and with a staunch refusal to give away his wicket.In the early parts of the day, he had let Rizwan spur Pakistan forward with his sweeps, and a couple of breezy cover drives. During their partnership of 71, which put Pakistan within 65 runs of victory, Shafique made only 23 runs, and struck just the solitary boundary. Rizwan made 40, and was eventually out lbw to a Jayasuriya slider.With the lower-middle-order batters, Shafique was no different, sticking with the strategy of waiting out the good balls, and creating single options, occasionally by coming down the track, or by going deep into his crease.When debutant Agha Salman and Hasan Ali – who had been promoted to hit some big shots – were out in quick succession with 41 still to get, Shafique was still resolute. Only in that final stand with Mohammad Nawaz (of the ones he was involved in, on day five), did Shafique outscore his partner, passing 150 for the first time in his career, with 25 still to get.The final obstacle in Pakistan’s way was the rain. With 11 required, the dark cloud that had forced a hurried shot out of Shafique unleashed a torrent. But the heavy rain lasted only minutes, and it soon became clear that play would resume, which it did following a delay of about 90 minutes. Shafique fittingly hit the winning runs, a slap through the covers to take him to 160 not out off 406.Of Sri Lanka’s attack, Jayasuriya seemed for large parts of the day to be the only bowler capable of taking wickets, with Ramesh Mendis unable to exert consistent pressure, while Maheesh Theekshana was milked for runs as well. Dhananjaya de Silva assisted Jayasuriya the best with some quiet overs.If last week’s innings win against Australia had made Sri Lanka confident in their spin attack, this chastening defeat has been a reality check. This remains an inexperienced group. Jayasuriya was the best of them again, taking 4 for 135 from 56.2 overs. Ramesh Mendis and Dhananjaya claimed a wicket apiece.