I haven’t yet retired from T20Is: Lasith Malinga rubbishes claims of mentoring LPL side

USA, Namibia and Scotland among 17 countries eager to host ICC Men’s tournaments

The International Cricket Council confirmed that a total of 17 counties including Associate members like the United States of America, Scotland, Namibia, Malaysia, UAE and Oman have submitted the preliminary technical proposal required for them to be considered for hosting ICC events in the next eight-year cycle. The other countries interested in hosting include permanent members such as Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe. "We are delighted with the response from our Members to hosting ICC men's white-ball events post 2023. This process gives us an opportunity to extend our range of hosts and grow interest in cricket worldwide, reaching more fans whilst creating a long-term legacy for the sport," ICC Acting Chief Executive Geoff Allardice said in a press release. There are in total eight ICC Men’s tournaments including two ODI World Cups, four T20I World Cups and two Champions Trophies during this time. The ICC Word Test Championship hosting along with those for the Women’s and U-19 tournaments has yet not been opened and a process regarding that would be laid out by the ICC later on. The 17 countries that have submitted the initial proposal would now have to submit a detailed proposal regarding their plans for the tournament. Post that the ICC will enumerate the path for the decisions.

With July 8 deadline to sign the contract, Sri Lanka players and board to tussle again

With the Sri Lankan players returning from their disastrous England tour on Tuesday, July 6, the ghost of the Sri Lankan Cricket player’s contract returns as well. The conflict between the board and the players have been going on ever since the SLC made public the new contracts and the player’s fee associated with it in May 2021. The SLC has decided to make July 8 the last date for the signing of the central contracts before the India series begins on July 13. Ho0wever, players wouldn’t really be willing to sign it having already defied a June 3 deadline to sign the contracts citing a lack of transparency in the process of drafting the contract. The main challenge that the players presented was that the remuneration that the board was paying to the Sri Lankan professionals was at least thrice less than what the popular cricket boards pay their players. The cited Federation of International Cricket Association (FICA) to justify their case. Now, with three top cricketers already banned for a year and the players not really playing that well, their case doesn’t remain really strong and it would be interesting to see if they sign the contract or the SLC would field a second-string side. The first of the three ODIs begin on July 13 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

In two separate incidents, Sri Lanka's Bhanuka Rajapaksa and performance analyst get banned

In two separate incidents two of Sri Lanka’s cricket fraternity members, a former national team cricket analyst and a cricket player were banned by the International Cricket Council and Sri Lanka Cricket respectively. While SLC handed Galle Gladiators' player, Bhanuka Rajapaksa a one-year ban from all forms of cricket and slapped him with a fine of USD 5000 for breach in player contract, Sanath Jayasundara, a former Sri Lanka Cricket performance analyst was handed a seven-year ban from all forms of cricket by the anti-corruption tribunal of the ICC after he was found guilty of breaching the ICC anti-corruption code. Rajapaksa, 29, has however been drafted into the 13 member squad that might face Team Indian in the upcoming ODI and T20I series to be held in Colombo, starting July 13. Since his ban is two years suspended, the player appeared in the fitness and cleared it as well, making him eligible to join the bio-bubble set up in Colombo. The NCC player has so far appeared in seven T20Is for the Lankan lions having made 5his debut in 2019 against Pakistan. Jayasundara, on the other hand, has been charged with bribery. In 2019, he had attempted to bribe Sri Lanka's then sports minister Harin Fernando to try and "influence improperly the result, progress, conduct or any other aspect of an international match".

Tom Curran relishes success after long time but points no change in bowling style

Before the third ODI of the series against Sri Lanka, Tom Curran have had only three wickets against his name in the last 11 ODIs, but the pacer bounced back emphatically well with a four-wicket haul. He bowled impeccable line and length picked up wickets of Oshada Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Binura Fernando to restrict the tourists to just 166 runs. However, Curran said that he has not changed his bowling style one bit to get back songs wickets but felt delighted by contributing to England’s dominance over Sri Lanka. "I haven't felt like I've done anything different. It's a funny game. I've felt pretty good for a while, to be honest. I just haven't quite been getting the wickets. I don't think I've done much different. It's nice to contribute with a few wickets today,” Curran said. Curran has not been a mainstay of England bowling lineup with an ever so increasing depth of the English ODI side, and he conceded a stiff competition among bowlers who have always put their hands up to perform. "The competition is always high. Everyone that has come in has put their hand up and bowled really well. All three games, the wickets have been shared around, obviously Woakes with four then Sam with five, but I think even the guys from the other end have bowled really well. Everyone that has played in the first three ODIs has done really nicely,” Curran added. England did not get the chance to bat in the final ODI of the series to affect a clean sweep on Sri Lanka but their dominance with both bat and ball left inflicted enough attack on the tourists to force an appaling performance.