FIFA has officially named Saudi Arabia as the host for the 2034 World Cup, marking a significant milestone for the Gulf nation as it continues its ambitious investment in global sports under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.  Saudi Arabia's bid was unopposed, with the decision confirmed during an online FIFA meeting led by President Gianni Infantino. The move received unanimous support, with over 200 member federations applauding virtually.  “The vote of the congress is loud and clear,” said Infantino, adding that he trusts Saudi Arabia to deliver a tournament that meets global expectations and serves as a “catalyst for positive social change and unity.”  The announcement also finalized plans for the 2030 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay hosting three matches to celebrate the tournament’s centenary.  Saudi Arabia’s hosting plan involves a major overhaul of infrastructure, including the construction and renovation of 15 stadiums, transportation networks, and accommodations, all part of the Vision 2030 modernization strategy. One proposed stadium in the futuristic city of Neom will be elevated 350 meters above ground, while another near Riyadh will be perched on a 200-meter cliff.  UN human rights chief pledges to advise FIFA and Saudi Arabia on 2034 World Cup concerns. Crown Prince Mohammed expressed his ambition to host an “exceptional and unprecedented” tournament, highlighting the country's capabilities to unite global football fans. However, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups, with Amnesty International calling it a “moment of great danger” for workers, many of whom are migrants from South Asia.  “FIFA’s reckless decision to award the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia without ensuring adequate human rights protections will put countless lives at risk,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s Head of Labor Rights and Sport.  Critics also argue that FIFA has not adequately addressed concerns stemming from Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, which faced scrutiny at the United Nations earlier this year. Many fear the kingdom’s vast spending on sports is an attempt to divert attention from such issues, a strategy often referred to as “sportswashing.”  Saudi Arabia’s deepening influence in global football includes sponsorships, investments in European clubs, and lucrative player contracts. This includes deals with FIFA, such as the state oil giant Aramco’s sponsorship and backing for the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States.    Source: With inputs from agencies

ICC has published the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup groups and fixtures. Ten teams will battle it out over 2.5 weeks and 23 games to be crowned as the next world champions of T20I cricket form. Let’s take a look at the fixtures, teams, and venues of the 2024 ICC Women’s T20I World Cup tournament. Host and Venues of Women’s T20 World Cup Tournament Bangladesh will host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup for the second time. They are the second nation to host two Women’s T20 World Cups.  The matches would be played in two different venues.  Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur, DhakaSylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet12 of the 23 games will be played at Dhaka while the others will take place at Sylhet. Read more: Shakib, Soumya, Mustafizur return as BCB announces squad for final Zimbabwe T20Is Format of 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup  Ten teams will be participating in this year’s tournaments. These teams will be divided into two groups. Each team will play with every one of the groups in a round-robin system. The top two teams of each group will qualify for the semi-finals. Groups of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Subhead: List of Countries in ICC Women’s World Cup 2024 Group Teams A Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka B Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies, Scotland Read more: Zimbabwe Come Close, But Bangladesh Clinch the Series Full Fixture of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 Subhead: Match Schedules and Fixtures in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2024 Match No Date Team 1 Team 2 Time (BST) Venue 1 10/3/2024 England South Africa 3:00 PM Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur 2 10/3/2024 Bangladesh Scotland 7:00 PM Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur 3 10/4/2024 Australia Sri Lanka 3:00 PM Sylhet International Cricket Stadium 4 10/4/2024 India New Zealand 7:00 PM Sylhet International Cricket Stadium 5 10/5/2014 South Africa  West Indies 3:00 PM Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur 6 10/5/2024 Bangladesh England 7:00 PM Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur 7 10/6/2024 New Zealand Sri Lanka 3:00 PM Sylhet International Cricket Stadium 8 10/6/2024 India Pakistan 7:00 PM Sylhet International Cricket Stadium 9 10/7/2024 West Indies Scotland 7:00 PM Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur 10 10/8/2024 Australia Pakistan 7:00 PM Sylhet International Cricket Stadium 11 10/9/2024 Bangladesh West Indies 3:00 PM Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur 12 10/9/2024 India Sri Lanka 7:00 PM Sylhet International Cricket Stadium 13 10/10/2024 South Africa  Scotland 7:00 PM Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur 14 10/11/2024 Australia New Zealand 3:00 PM Sylhet International Cricket Stadium 15 10/11/2024 Pakistan Sri Lanka 7:00 PM Sylhet International Cricket Stadium 16 10/12/2024 England West Indies 3:00 PM Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur 17 10/12/2024 Bangladesh South Africa 7:00 PM Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur 18 10/13/2024 New Zealand Pakistan  3:00 PM Sylhet International Cricket Stadium 19 10/13/2024 Australia India 7:00 PM Sylhet International Cricket Stadium 20 10/14/2024 England Scotland 7:00 PM Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur Semi-Final 1 10/17/2024 TBA TBA 7:00 PM Sylhet International Cricket Stadium Semi-Final 2 10/18/2024 TBA TBA 7:00 PM Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur Finale 10/20/2024 TBA TBA 7:00 PM Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur             Read more: Towhid's 50 propels Bangladesh to 165 in 3rd T20I against Zimbabwe Conclusion The 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup tournament will kick off on the 3rd of October with England taking on runner-up South Africa at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. Host Bangladesh will play in the 2nd game of the tournament against Scotland. Defending champion Australia will start their 3rd consecutive title defense against Sri Lanka at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. The semi-finals will start on the 17th of October. The Grand Finale is scheduled to be played on the 20th of October at Dhaka. Read more: BCB President dissatisfied with national team’s batting despite Bangladesh's series lead over Zimbabwe

Akram Khan, a member of the committee formed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to analyze the Bangladesh team's performance in the 2023 World Cup, said they will now engage in discussions with Shakib Al Hasan. Bangladesh endured a dismal World Cup in India, losing seven out of nine matches. Shakib captained the team in this tournament, labeling it as Bangladesh's worst World Cup performance. After more than two weeks since the Bangladesh team returned home from India, the BCB established a committee to review the World Cup performance and identify the reasons behind the team's below-par performance. West Indies Pull Off an Epic Test Win in Australia After 27 Years “We have completed 90% of our work around a month ago,” Akram Khan told the media on Sunday. “We had a tour in New Zealand, and now BPL is underway. We are yet to sit with 2-3 individuals, including Shakib. We will go there (Sylhet) tomorrow.” The BCB announced the three-member ‘Special Committee’ on November 29 last year, with Enayet Hossain Siraj appointed as the convener and Akram and Mahbubul Anam as members. BPL 2024: Babar's osifty as Rangpur Cruise to Victory vs Dhaka The committee was formed amid a report by a private TV station claiming that a national team player was physically abused by the head coach during the World Cup. Although the committee was not initially tasked with investigating this claim, it is expected that they may address the issue. The report did not mention the name of any cricketer, but speculation surfaced that the cricketer in question was the national team spinner, Nasum Ahmed. Akram did not clarify if they are also tasked with the investigation of that allegation. “We are asked to analyze the performance,” Akram said. “We will inform the board about what was negative and what was positive. Then the board will decide how we will proceed.” BPL 2024: Avishka Shines as Chattogram Challengers Win Against Struggling Barishal Earlier, Akram said, when asked about the alleged abuse of a cricketer by the head coach, that they would talk to the involved individuals. On December 5, the committee sat with Nasum and talked to him about the World Cup. However, it’s not clear if Nasum was asked anything about that alleged abuse.

India and New Zealand are set to face off in the first semifinal of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on November 15 at 2:30 pm Bangladesh time. Led by Rohit Sharma, India secured the top spot by winning eight consecutive games. On the other hand, New Zealand earned a spot in the top four with five wins in nine matches. Ahead of the big match, let's review the condition of each team. Preview of IND vs NZ ODI in the 2023 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup  India headed to the semifinal with great confidence as they won three consecutive matches against Sri Lanka, South Africa, and the Netherlands this month. In all three matches, they batted first and emerged victorious. In their previous encounter with New Zealand, India won the match while batting second. India In the midst of all the surprises and upsets that the 2023 ODI World Cup has delivered, one consistent factor stands out—India's unquestionable dominance throughout the tournament. India has three of the top eight run-scorers in the 2023 Cricket World Cup. The former captain, Virat Kohli, leads the charts with 594 runs in nine innings, followed by current captain Rohit Sharma with 503 runs and batter Shreyas Iyer with 421 runs, both in nine innings each. This collective dominance is quite significant. Furthermore, India has three bowlers among the top eight wicket-takers in the tournament. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah leads with 17 wickets in nine innings, followed by fellow fast bowler Mohammed Shami with 16 wickets in five innings, and spinner Ravindra Jadeja with 16 wickets in nine innings. Mohammed Siraj is a bit further down the list with 12 wickets in nine innings. Having won the Cricket World Cup twice, with the last victory in 2011, India is currently unbeaten at home and has several star players in excellent form. However, Hardik Pandya's absence from the squad could prove to be a significant factor for India, given that he was not only one of their key players but also served as the team's vice-captain. With Suryakumar Yadav taking his place at number 5 in the batting lineup, India has been playing with just five bowlers ever since Pandya was sidelined. Shubman Gill's comeback after recovering from dengue has led to him consistently opening the batting alongside Sharma since the match against Pakistan on October 14. And getting Shubman regularly in the team is a plus point for India. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: India ODI Squad Analysis New Zealand New Zealand should be thankful for securing four wins relatively early in their World Cup campaign, as they later experienced four consecutive defeats. However, a late victory over Sri Lanka pushed them into the semifinal stage of the tournament against the clear favorites for the title. Opener Rachin Ravindra and all-rounder Daryl Mitchell stand out as the top run-scorers for the Black Caps at the 2023 Cricket World Cup. Ravindra has accumulated 565 runs in nine innings, whereas Mitchell has notched up 418 runs in eight innings, registering three centuries in this tournament. The return to fitness of captain Kane Williamson is also a significant boost for the team. New Zealand's standout wicket-takers in this tournament are spinner Mitchell Santner and fast bowler Trent Boult, who have collectively taken 29 wickets. Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has contributed with 10 wickets. The absence of fiery Matt Henry, who took 11 wickets before leaving the tournament due to injury, is a potential concern. Despite being finalists in 2019 and 2015, New Zealand has never won the Cricket World Cup. As they aim for a third successive final, their recent bilateral ODI series record against India is not impressive. However, in a major tournament, a single win can correct past shortcomings. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2026 2nd Round Qualifiers: BAN vs AUS Match Preview Probable Starting XI for India Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj. Probable Starting XI for New Zealand Kane Williamson (c), Devon Conway, Will Young, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi and Trent Boult. IND vs NZ Head-to-head Records So Far In the 117 ODI matches played between India and New Zealand, India has the lead with 59 victories. However, New Zealand is a notable challenge for India. In the ODI World Cups, the two teams have faced each other ten times. New Zealand has won five of those matches, while India has emerged victorious in four, with one match ending without a result. Stats Matches India Won New Zealand Won No Result Tied Overall  117 59 50 7 1 ODI World Cups 10 4 5 1 0 World Cup 2023 1 1 0 0 0 Indian Players to Watch Rohit Sharma Rohit Sharma has been the standout batsman for India in this tournament, consistently providing explosive starts that have often put the team in a favorable position. However, when considering his suitability for the upcoming game, it's important to note that his current form is the primary factor in his favor. However, Rohit doesn't have a good record against New Zealand, and he has a 37.40 average from 26 innings against New Zealand. Virat Kohli Virat Kohli has been in excellent form during the tournament, scoring 594 runs in nine innings and currently ranking as the highest run-scorer. His impressive track record against New Zealand, with an average of 56.59 across 30 innings, and his fondness for batting at the Wankhede Stadium, where he has an average of 59.50, make him a crucial and essential choice for the upcoming game. Mohammed Shami Mohammed Shami has been in sensational form since entering the tournament. With an impressive 16 wickets in just four matches, Shami is proving to be unstoppable. His outstanding performance makes it impossible to overlook him for the upcoming game. Read more: Bangladesh’s matches in the 2nd Round Qualifiers of FIFA World Cup 2026: Schedules, Fixtures, Team New Zealand Players to Watch Rachin Ravindra The most significant topic of conversation in this tournament has revolved around Rachin Ravindra and his impressive batting performance. With a total of 565 runs in nine innings, he currently holds the title of the third-highest run-scorer in the World Cup 2023. Considering his incredible  form, Ravindra is undoubtedly a key player in the next match against the Kiwis. Trent Boult The Kiwi speedster hasn't been in top form during the tournament, making him appear as a somewhat risky choice. However, if New Zealand ends up bowling second, Trent Boult could become a crucial player for them. He grabbed 13 wickets from 9 games. Final Words India is unbeaten in this ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023. Although New Zealand has a better record in the knockout stage, India has the home ground advantage. So, India is likely to win this IND vs NZ match.  Read more: Bangladesh's Overall Performance Analysis in the ICC World Cup 2023

England captain Jos Buttler won the toss and opted to bat in a must-win game for the defending champions against Sri Lanka on Thursday at the Cricket World Cup. England has one win — against Bangladesh — from its opening four games at the tournament following heavy losses to New Zealand and South Africa and an upset defeat to Afghanistan. Sri Lanka's five-wicket win over the Netherlands last weekend was its first victory in four games at the tournament. Read: World Cup 2023: Australia brighten their semifinal berth with a record 309-run victory over Netherlands England made three changes to its side from the massive defeat against South Africa. Pacer Reece Topley was already ruled out of the tournament with a hand injury, and was replaced by all-rounder Chris Woakes. Spin all-rounder Moeen Ali and big-hitting batsman Liam Livingstone have also been included, with Harry Brook and pacer Gus Atkinson left out. Read: ICC World Cup 2023: Shakib leaves team in India for personal practice sessions in Dhaka Sri Lanka brought in all-rounder Angelo Mathews as an injury replacement for pacer Matheesha Pathirana. Medium pacer Lahiru Kumara also comes into the side, with bowling all-rounders Dushan Hemantha and Chamika Karunratne left out. Buttler has managed only 87 runs in four games thus far, with a highest of 43. Sri Lanka is unbeaten against England in their past four World Cup meetings.   Lineups:   England: Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (captain), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, David Willey, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.   Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (captain), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Mathews, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka

Lionel Messi scored twice in Argentina's 2-0 win at Peru in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, playing the entire match for his national team. The 36-year-old appeared fit after he was sidelined for several matches with his club Inter Miami because of muscular pain Also Tuesday, Brazil — the archrival of the defending World Cup champion — took two serious blows at Uruguay. Brazil lost 2-0 to the hosts, its first defeat in 37 World Cup qualifying matches, and saw its star Neymar leave the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo on crutches with a left knee injury. Elsewhere, Venezuela beat Chile 3-0. Yeferson Soteldo opened the scoring shortly before the break, Salomón Rondón added a goal in the 72nd minute, and Darwin Machis scored seven minutes later. Last week, Venezuela earlier had a 1-1 draw against Brazil. Ecuador and Colombia had a scoreless draw, and Paraguay beat Bolivia 1-0 on Antonio Sanabria's goal in the 69th minute. Read: ICC World Cup 2023: Australia beat Sri Lanka in first win Argentina leads South American qualifying with 12 points in four matches. Uruguay, Brazil and Venezuela have seven points and are separated by goal difference. Colombia has six points, and Ecuador, Paraguay and Chile have four each. Peru has one point and Bolivia has zero. The next World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada will include 48 teams, meaning direct entry for the top six teams in South America. The seventh-place team will contest an intercontinental playoff for a berth. Two more rounds of South American World Cup qualifying will be played in November. Brazil and Argentina will face off at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on Nov. 21. ARGENTINA 2, PERU 0 Messi increased his total to 106 goals in 178 international appearances, moving within two of Iran's Ali Daei for second on the career list behind Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo at 127. The defending World Cup champion never faced risks at Lima's National Stadium against a Peruvian team that has yet to score in four qualifying matches. Argentina's confident performance could be traced to Messi finally playing as a starter and appearing fully healthy. The 36-year-old made it 1-0 after a counterattack in the 32nd minute. Enzo Fernández passed to Nico González on the left. A low cross found Messi at the edge of the box, and he shot it to the left angle of goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. Read: Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho arrives in Dhaka Wednesday Messi scored again 10 minutes later after Enzo Fernández found him nearly at the same spot. Messi shot it on Gallese's right corner. He later had a goal disallowed for a low margin offside caught by video review in the 57th minute. “Yes, we have a good group and a good environment in our dressing room and things are much easier. We enjoy being together and playing together," Messi said. “After we won the World Cup we got confidence, we are more united and firm. I hope we can keep growing.” Peruvian and Argentinian fans tried to invade the field after the match to hug Messi, who led the World Cup champions to their eighth straight victory since they won last year’s title in Qatar. Last Thursday, Messi played for almost an entire half of Argentina's 1-0 victory over Paraguay. URUGUAY 2, BRAZIL 0 After a slow start to the match in Montevideo, Maximiliano Araujo easily beat Marquinhos on the left flank and crossed the ball to Darwin Núnez, who headed it into the net. Read: FIFA World Cup: Bangladesh to play Maldives in a do or die match on Tuesday The second half started with Brazil still doubtful and Uruguay ready to counterattack. One of those transitions was enough for a close-range finish by Nicolás de la Cruz in the 77th minute. “In the short run we need to be realistic, we need to improve,” Brazil captain Casemiro said. “For Neymar to leave the match it is surely something serious. But I hope it isn’t at the end. He has had those injuries whenever he starts picking up his pace again, it is hard.” With and without Neymar, Brazil had its worst performance under new coach Fernando Diniz, who will remain in the job at least until next year's Copa America. Uruguay, now coached by Argentinian Marcelo Bielsa, had its first win against Brazil in 22 years. “We had to play against a tough and direct rival,” Núñez said. “Today we made history.”

Kusal Mendis called correctly as Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat against Australia on Monday in what is almost a must-win game for both teams at the Cricket World Cup. Mendis took over captaincy duties from Dasun Shanaka, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a thigh injury. Read: World Cup 2023: England outplayed as Afghanistan script historic win in Delhi Five-time champion Australia is coming off losses to host India and South Africa and is in last spot in the 10-team league stage, while Sri Lanka has lost to South Africa and to Pakistan in high-scoring games. Injuries forced changes in Sri Lanka's starting lineup. Bowling all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne replaced Shanaka in a like-for-like squad replacement, and was elevated immediately into the XI. Wayward medium pacer Matheesha Pathirana was ruled out because of injury and replaced by Lahiru Kumara. Australia retained the same starting lineup despite criticism of the composition of its bowling attack, featuring just one specialist spinner. The match started in Lucknow within hours of the International Olympic Committee voting in Mumbai to include cricket on its sports program for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Read: 'Deeply regret the incident': Litton apologizes after journos removed from team hotel Six-team men's and women's Twenty20 competitions will feature when cricket returns to the Olympics for the first time since 1900. Cricket was one of five sports added to the program for Los Angeles, and is already likely to be retained with following Summer Olympics, in 2032, being staged in Brisbane, Australia. India is bidding to host the 2036 Olympics. Lineups: Australia: Mitchell Marsh, David Warner, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (captain), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood. Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (captain), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Chamika Karunaratne, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka  

Australia and Sri Lanka aim to secure their first victory in the 2023 Cricket World Cup as they meet in match 14 at Ekana Sports City in Lucknow on Monday, October 16, at 2:30 pm Bangladesh time. After losing the first two matches, both teams understand the imperative nature of the situation, treating each subsequent game as a virtual knockout match to revive their World Cup campaign. Preview of Australia vs. Sri Lanka ODI in the 2023 ICC World Cup Team Australia did not start the competition well. They lost their first game to India, and it wasn't a good sign. But things got worse in their second match against South Africa. They didn't play well and lost by a huge margin of 134 runs. The main problem for Australia has been with their batting. None of their main players have given their best yet. Surprisingly, no one from the team has scored fifty runs in any match so far. Now, they are facing Sri Lanka, a team that beat them 3-2 the last time they played in June 2022. Looking at how Australia has played in the first two games, they really need to step up their game. If they don't give their best against Sri Lanka, their chances of moving to the next round might be in trouble even before the middle of the competition. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Tickets: How to Buy Online, Booking, Prices, Starting Dates and Timings On the other hand, even though Sri Lanka lost their first two matches in the tournament, it's worth acknowledging their efforts. In the first game, they faced a strong South African team that set a new record for the highest score in the ICC World Cup history, reaching 428/5 in 50 overs. Although Sri Lanka couldn't chase down this huge score, they managed to score 326 runs, which would have been a winning total on most other days. Three days later, on October 10, Sri Lanka faced Pakistan and played excellent with the bat again, setting a target of 345. However, Pakistan managed to chase it down. Although Sri Lanka has been strong with their batting, they need to do better when it comes to bowling. They have only taken nine wickets in their last two matches. Sri Lanka beat Australia in June 2022, and considering Australia's current struggles, Sri Lanka believe they have a good chance of winning this match and getting their first victory in the tournament. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Schedule, Fixtures, Venues, Team List Team News It's fair to say that Australia hasn't been the same without Usman Khawaja opening the innings. Trying Mitchell Marsh in that role hasn't worked well, as he has only scored seven runs in the competition so far. Because of this, Cummins might be thinking about bringing in Travis Head. This change could allow Marsh to move to the middle order, where he has performed well in recent months. Further, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and David Warner have had decent starts in the last two matches and are likely to stay in the team. However, the pressure is on them to score big in this upcoming game. On the other hand, Sri Lanka has felt the absence of leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, who couldn't play in the World Cup due to a hamstring injury. In the last match, Matheesha Pathirana gave 90 runs in his nine overs. Because of this, Dasun Shanaka might consider giving Kasun Rajitha a chance as the first change bowling option in the upcoming game. Australia vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head Records in ODI So Far Australia and Sri Lanka have played each other in 103 ODI matches. Out of these, Australia has won 63 times, while Sri Lanka has emerged victorious on 36 occasions. Additionally, 4 matches concluded without a result. Table: Australia vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head ODI Matches So Far Matches Australia Won Sri Lanka Won No Result 103 63 36 4 Probable Playing XI for Australia David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Australia Men's ODI Squad Analysis Probable Playing XI for Sri Lanka Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka. Key Australian Players to Watch Marnus Labuschagne Even though he's not in his best form, Marnus Labuschagne was the highest scorer with 46 runs for Australia in the last game and has the potential to play a substantial innings in the upcoming match. In India, Marnus has an average of 40 runs, showcasing his ability to adjust to challenging conditions. Moreover, he has scored 30 or more runs in five out of the last eight matches. Mitchell Starc Mitchell Starc remains one of the premier ODI bowlers globally, known for his lethal toe-crushing yorkers and challenging left-arm swing that troubles batsmen. Against Sri Lanka, the fast bowler maintains an average of taking two wickets per match. He has played 14 matches against Sri Lanka and grabbed 27 wickets. Starc has a remarkable record in World Cups, being a specialist in the format, having secured an impressive 52 wickets in 20 tournament matches on the grandest stage. Adam Zampa Adam Zampa is the only designated spinner in Australia's World Cup squad. Since the tournament is taking place on spin friendly pitch, Australia’s performance will highly depend on Zampa’s bowling. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Venues: Cities and Stadiums in India Key Sri Lankan Players to Watch Kusal Mendis Kusal Mendis is currently in the best form of his career for Sri Lanka, scoring 122, 76, and 17 runs in his last three ODI innings. As a star player at the number three position, Mendis excels in the white ball format, displaying a skill for constructing his innings. His record for playing against Australia is evident, boasting an average of 50.33 runs across 11 matches against them. Dilshan Madushanka In the process of developing his career, Dilshan Madushanka is demonstrating notable consistency for the Sri Lankan team, securing two wickets in each of their World Cup games thus far. As a pace bowler, Madushanka possesses the ability to generate swing on the ball even during the latter part of the innings. Despite being underrated, he has maintained an average of two wickets per match over the past year in ODI. Final Words Australia has been in poor form, losing seven out of its last 10 ODI matches. They now face Sri Lanka, who have emerged victorious in three of the last five meetings between the two teams. While Sri Lanka have a good chance of winning this match, considering Australia's inconsistent form, it might be safer to consider the AUS vs. SL World Cup 2023 match is likely to be a closely contested match. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Live Streaming: How and Where to Watch all matches Online

Bangladesh and New Zealand will meet in M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday for the 11th match of the ICC World Cup 2023. The match will begin at 2:30 pm Bangladesh time on October 13, 2023. The Kiwis are in a good mood after winning two consecutive matches without the regular captain Williamson. They blew away the reigning world champions, England, in the opening match of the season. On the other hand, Bangladesh won in their first game of the season but faced a downturn in the second match against the reigning champions, England. Preview of BAN vs. NZ ODI in ICC World Cup 2023 New Zealand has had a great start in World Cup 2023. In the first match, they defeated the world champion England by 9 wickets, and in the second match, they defeated the Netherlands by 99 runs. On the other hand, after defeating Afghanistan by 6 wickets in the first match, Bangladesh lost to England by 137 runs. The match will be played on a spin-friendly pitch. And so, despite being in great form, New Zealand's tough batting lineup will have to be worried about this match against Bangladesh. On top of that, the Kiwis will also play against Afghanistan in this stadium. Nevertheless, 9 of the top 10 wicket-takers in the history of the Chidambaram Stadium are spinners. Legendary spinner Anil Kumble is at the top of that list with 48 wickets, and Harbhajan Singh on two with 42 wickets. So, New Zealand sees not only the Tigers but the Afghans as a challenge. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Schedule, Fixtures, Venues, Team List However, New Zealand has good news for their team. Kane Williamson might return to the field with the match against Bangladesh. The New Zealand captain is making great improvements towards that goal. Alongside him, veteran pacer Tim Southee is set to return against the Tigers. Williamson suffered a ligament injury during the last IPL game. And last month, Southee suffered an ankle injury during the tour of England. Like Williamson, he was also left out of the XI for the first two matches of the World Cup. New Zealand coach Gary Stead gave the news about the two stars on Wednesday. Both are fully ready to return to action after recovering from injuries. Bangladesh, on the other hand, is likely to start with the regular team. Before the start of the World Cup, it was known that Bangladesh’s batting could suffer. But who thought that the spinners, the main weapon of Bangladesh bowling, would get stuck, which we saw in the last match against England? As Bangladesh's top and middle order suffered a disaster against England in Dharamsala on Tuesday, England also took advantage of their bowling weakness to score runs at a rate of more than 7.25 per over. The only big news in Bangladesh's batting line-up in the last match is opener Litton Das' return to form. So, fans will keep an eye on him against the Kiwis. However, the loss against England surely reduces Bangladesh's confidence. But the spin-friendly stadium may raise some hope for the Tigers. The New Zealand team visited Bangladesh on September 21-26 before the World Cup. New Zealand won the three-match series by 2-0. However, just as the Kiwis were not a full-strength team in this series, neither was Bangladesh. So, both teams have a bit of an idea about the opponent. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Tickets: How to Buy Online, Booking, Prices, Starting Dates and Timings BAN vs New Zealand Head to Head in ODI New Zealand and Bangladesh have encountered each other in 41 matches. Among these, New Zealand secured victory in 30 games, while Bangladesh won 10 games. Additionally, one match concluded without a definitive result. Table: BAN vs. NZ Head-to-Head ODI Matches So Far Matches Bangladesh Won New Zealand Won No Result 41 10 30 1 Predicted Playing XI for Bangladesh Tanzid Hasan, Litton Das, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Towhid Hridoy, Mahedi Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.  Read more: Analysis of Bangladesh Squad for ICC World Cup 2023 Predicted Playing XI for New Zealand Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson (c), Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Trent Boult. Bangladeshi Players to Watch in BAN vs NZ Match Litton Das Litton played a decently fair inning in the last match against England. He scored 76 runs from 66 balls, which contained 7 fours and 2 sixes. So, Bangladeshi fans might keep some hope on him in the next match. However, Litton played 18 innings this year and scored 427 runs in total, while he played the best innings of the year in the last match. Mushfiqur Rahim Mushfique was the second-highest scorer in the last match. He scored 51 runs from 64 balls. This year, Mushfique played 17 innings so far and scored 648 runs in total. However, he could not get a chance to show his skill in the first match against the Afghans as Bangladesh reached the victory before that. Mahedi Hasan Mahedi grabbed four wickets in the last match, and he will surely be included in the next match, as it will be played in the spin-friendly stadium. So far, he played 9 matches for Bangladesh in ODI and took 12 wickets. However, he can also contribute with the bat, as he scored 103 runs in total from 8 innings. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Venues: Cities and Stadiums in India New Zealand Players to Watch in the BAN vs NZ Match Mitchell Santner The all-rounder has effectively established his position as a key player in the New Zealand squad. At 32 years old, he has consistently been the preferred bowler for his captain, Kane Williamson, especially in challenging situations. Notably, he delivered a pivotal spell during their semi final triumph over India in the 2019 Cricket World Cup. He also proved himself in this World Cup, as he grabbed 5 wickets against the Netherlands and two wickets against England. Devon Conway As Kane Williamson was unavailable for the first two matches, Devon Conway had a significant responsibility in the top order. And he did it pretty well with 152 runs against England and 32 runs against Netherlands. Considering his current form, the Kiwi opener will surely have an impact against Bangladesh. Rachin Ravindra By scoring 174 runs from two World Cup matches, Ravindra earned a great World Cup debut for Kiwis. This young batter played 10 innings and scored 363 runs, while his performance at the World Cup is a significant one. Final Words Considering the recent performance, New Zealand is a stronger team compared to Bangladesh. Furthermore, upon analyzing the performances of both teams in the ICC World Cup 2023, the Black Caps demonstrated an outstanding performance in two matches. So, Bangladesh will have less of a chance in the BAN vs. NZ ODI match on October 13, 2023. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Live Streaming: How and Where to Watch all matches Online

Pakistan and Sri Lanka are scheduled to compete in the 8th match of the ICC 2023 Cricket World Cup match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad, India. The match will be held on October 10 at 2:30 pm Bangladesh. This will be the second match for both teams, where Pakistan is coming with a win, and Sri Lanka lost their first match against South Africa. Preview of Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka ODI Match in the 2023 ICC World Cup  Pakistan started their World Cup journey with an 81-run victory over the Netherlands. However, they encountered some challenges in batting against the Dutch bowlers. Nevertheless, Pakistan's strong bowling unit, led by Haris Rauf, ensured a comfortable victory. Ranked 2nd in ODIs, Pakistan is determined to clinch another win and strengthen their standing in the tournament. It's important to highlight that the upcoming match will be held at the same venue where Pakistan competed last week, potentially giving them an additional advantage. Given that both teams experienced being bowled out on that particular day, the venue might favor the bowlers, making the choice for the Player of the Match likely to be influenced by bowling performances. This year, Pakistan played 17 ODI matches so far and won 11 of them, while one match outcome was no result. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Tickets: How to Buy Online, Booking, Prices, Starting Dates and Timings Table: Pakistan's performance in ODI matches in 2023 So far Matches Win Loss No Result 17 11 5 1 Ranked 8th in ODIs, Sri Lanka experienced a challenging defeat in their first World Cup match against South Africa on October 7, 2023, conceding a record number of runs. The Lankan bowling unit, affected by injuries, struggled to contend with the challenges posed by Quinton de Kock, Rassie Vander Dussen, and Aiden Markram, who each notched up centuries. In contrast, the batsmen delivered an impressive performance, with Kusal Mendis showcasing his batting skills with a dazzling 76 off 42 balls. Additionally, Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka contributed significantly, both reaching half-centuries. Sri Lanka is eager to rebound and deliver an improved performance against Pakistan. With a historical reputation for competitiveness in World Cup matches, the team aims to rediscover their form in this crucial encounter. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023 Venues: Cities and Stadiums in India In the current year, Sri Lanka has participated in 23 ODI matches, emerging victorious in 14 of them. And they lost 9 matches in 2023. So, the Lankans have a good record so far, and they can give a good fight against Pakistan. Table: Sri Lanka's performance in ODI matches in 2023 So far Matches Win Loss No Result 23 14 9 0 Stats of Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the ICC ODI World Cups So far Pakistan has taken part in a total of 13 ICC World Cups, including the ongoing 2023 tournament. Notably, their standout performance was in 1992, when they clinched the World Cup title. In 1979, 1983, 1987, and 2011, Pakistan reached the Semi-Finals, while in 1999, they secured the runner-up position. However, their journey concluded in the group stage in 2003, 2007, and 2019. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: Schedule, Fixtures, Venues, Team List Sri Lanka has also made appearances in 13 World Cups. They secured the World Cup title once in 1996 and finished as runners-up on two occasions in 2007 and 2011. Table: Pakistan and Sri Lanka Stats in ICC ODI World Cups Team Appearances Total Matches Played Wins Losses Tie No Result Pakistan 13 times 80 45 32 0 3 Sri Lanka 13 times 83 38 39 1 5 Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head ODI Matches So Far Pakistan and Sri Lanka have contested each other in a total of 156 matches. Out of this tally, Pakistan emerged triumphant in 92 encounters, while Sri Lanka secured victories in 59 matches. Additionally, four matches concluded without a result, and one match ended in a tie. Read more: Shakib's wife Shisir posts emotional message of support on Facebook Table: PAK vs. SL Head-to-Head ODI Matches So Far Matches Pakistan Won Sri Lanka Won No Result 156 92 59 40 Probable Pakistan XI Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf. Probable Sri Lanka XI Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana. Read more: ICC World Cup 2023: India ODI Squad Analysis Pakistani Players to Watch Babar Azam Babar Azam, the team captain and ICC's top-ranked ODI batter, is set to play a crucial role as the main man of Pakistan's batting order. Although he could not do well (scored 5 runs only) against the Netherlands, Babar might emerge as a mighty batter in the next match. This year, Babar played 17 matches so far and scored 750 runs, which consists of two centuries and six centuries. Haris Rauf Haris took three wickets in the last match against the Netherlands, and he has been one of the most prominent bowlers of Pakistan. This year, he played 14 ODIs and grabbed 27 wickets. So, he might lead the Pakistani bowling lineup in the next match against Sri Lanka. Shaheen Afridi In the ODIs of 2023, Pakistani bowler Shaheen Afridi has showcased an outstanding performance, proving to be a tough force with the ball. In 13 matches, he has taken an impressive 25 wickets at an economical rate of 5.30. Afridi's bowling average stands at 22.64, reflecting his effectiveness in consistently breaking through opposition batting line-ups. He took one wicket in the last match. Read more: Analysis of Bangladesh Squad for ICC World Cup 2023 Sri Lankan Players to Watch  Charith Asalanka Charith Asalanka holds a significant role for Sri Lanka, currently standing as their highest-ranked ODI batsman. His noteworthy performance against South Africa in the last match, where he emerged as the top scorer, reflects his excellent form. Considering these achievements, he might be the savior for Sri Lanka in the next match. Matheesha Pathirana Emerging as one of the standout talents in Sri Lankan cricket over the last year, Pathirana has made a significant impact since his ODI debut in June. In the span of 11 matches, he has claimed 16 wickets. Drawing inspiration from the distinctive sling round-arm fast-bowling style of Lasith Malinga, Pathirana has proven adept at curbing opposition scoring rates, showcasing his ability to be a valuable asset in the bowling department. However, Pathirana had a poor performance in the last match, taking one wicket at a 9.5 economy rate. Final Words Pakistan has a good chance to win the PAK vs. SL match on October 10’s ICC World Cup match, because they have been really successful in past Cricket World Cup matches. They have got a superstar player, Babar Azam, who is excellent at batting, and their fast bowlers are tough to beat. So, Pakistan looks like they might come out as a winner in this match. Read more: Bangladesh's Fixtures for ICC World Cup 2023