Pakistan coach Wahab Riaz said that his team disappointed itself in the Women’s T20 World Cup. On Saturday, Fatima Sana’s team was eliminated from the tournament after losing to Bangladesh by 23 runs at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.

Chasing a target of 124 runs to win, Pakistan were in a good position at 69 for 2 after 11 overs. A dramatic batting collapse left their score at 100 for 8..

Reflecting on the campaign, Wahab said that Pakistan was responsible for its own decline rather than being defeated by its opponents. He expressed disappointment at the team’s inability to handle pressure, especially after the batting failed in the first three matches.

Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Women’s T20 World Cup: highlight | Achievement:

The defeat deprived Pakistan of a win in the tournament, with their remaining two games now providing the only opportunity to salvage some pride.

Wahab said in the post-match press conference, “It is very disappointing to be out of the World Cup because, from our point of view, I still believe that no other team has really beaten us. We have beaten ourselves. That is a big difference. When another team plays better and beats you, you have to give them credit. But unfortunately, in our last three matches, we could not perform as expected and it was us who let those matches slip away.”

How Pakistan endured a horrific batting defeat

Against India, Pakistan had scored 51 runs for 1 wicket in the powerplay, but Deepti Sharma and Sri Charani collapsed the batting. Against South Africa, the Proteas pace trio of Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka wreaked havoc, leaving Pakistan at 50 for 8.

Captain Fatima Sana fought bravely against South Africa, scoring 55 runs and taking three wickets, but her all-round efforts ultimately went in vain. Against Bangladesh, Muniba Ali and Gul Firozha laid a strong foundation by making an opening partnership of 49 runs. However, Pakistan suffered another dramatic batting collapse, resulting in their exit from the tournament.

After losing their first three matches, Pakistan will look to do better against Australia in their final group-stage match at Headingley, Leeds on June 23. They will then conclude their campaign against tournament debutants Netherlands on 27 June in Bristol.

– ends

Vaibhav Suryavanshi once again showed why he is considered one of India’s brightest young talents by playing a brilliant inning of 94 runs in just 29 balls against Sri Lanka A in the final of the Tri-Nation Series. The 15-year-old hit 10 fours and 8 sixes at an incredible pace of 324.14 and missed the century by 6 runs. Although this innings is one of the most destructive innings he has ever played for India A in the 50-over format, it was not the highest-scoring innings of his young career.After being elected to field first by Sri Lanka A, the 15-year-old opening batsman took on the Sri Lankan bowlers fiercely and brought up his half-century in just 11 balls, hitting a brilliant sequence of 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, 0, 6, 4, 4, 6, 6 off his first 11 balls. In doing so, Suryavanshi broke the previous world record of a half-century in 12 balls set by Sri Lanka’s Kaushalya Weeraratne in 2005. But this was his second best innings in terms of strike rate. The best chance came in November 2025, when at the age of just 14 years and 232 days, the left-handed opening batsman rewrote the record books with a remarkable inning of 144 runs off 42 balls against UAE in the Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament.In that T20 match, he scored runs at a tremendous strike rate of 342.86 and hit 11 fours and 15 sixes. He completed his century in just 32 balls, making it the joint-third fastest T20 century by an Indian batsman along with Rishabh Pant, who scored a century in 32 balls for Delhi in the SMAT. Suryavanshi gave India A a mammoth score of 297/4 in 20 overs and played a key role in giving the team an emphatic 148-run win. However, Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored the most runs for Team India in the U19-final match against England in 2026. Vaibhav destroyed the England bowling attack with the help of 15 fours and 15 sixes and scored 175 runs in just 80 balls at a strike rate of 218.75 and took India to a record score of 411/9 in the final.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi is totally rocking the cover.

He is batting at 87 runs off just 26 balls, holding the record for the fastest List A century.

The record for the fastest List A century is held by Australian prodigy Jake Fraser-McGurk, who achieved the feat in just 29 balls.

Here are the Indian cricketers who scored the fastest century in the list:

1. Saqibul Ghani – 32 balls, Bihar vs Arunachal Pradesh, December 24, 2025
2. Ishan Kishan – 33 balls, Jharkhand vs Karnataka, December 24, 2025
3. Anmolpreet Singh – 35 balls, Punjab vs Arunachal Pradesh, December 21, 2024
4. Vaibhav Suryavanshi – 36 balls, Bihar vs Arunachal Pradesh, December 24, 2025
5. Yusuf Pathan – 40 balls, Baroda vs Maharashtra, February 16, 2010

captain of india Harmanpreet Kaur She is set to create a milestone on Sunday when she takes the field against South Africa in Manchester and becomes the first player – male or female – to appear in 200 T20 Internationals.This historic achievement came during the Women’s T20 World Cup and marks a journey that has spanned 17 years, encompassing multiple generations of cricketers and the growth of women’s cricket on the global stage.Ireland’s Paul Stirling holds the record for playing most games (163) in men’s T20Is, while Rohit Sharma In the men’s category, he is at second place with 159 T20Is. In women’s T20Is, Kaur currently leads the list with 199 games and is followed by New Zealand’s Suzie Bates (184). Australian legend Ellyse Perry is at fourth place in Women’s T20I with 177 matches.Kaur made her T20I debut during the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup in England in 2009. Seventeen years later, she is preparing to play her 200th match in the format during the 10th edition of the tournament. Only six other players who were active with them in 2009 are still playing international cricket.The 37-year-old will lead India in the crucial Group A match against South Africa at Old Trafford.India’s bowling coach Avishkar Salvi praised Kaur’s contribution to the game and the team.“I think Herman is a top-level athlete,” he said. “She is a role model for almost all cricketers globally. The way she has conducted herself over the years has been a role model. She has been a good performer in any format. She is playing her 200th T20, it is a big thing. And we are all excited to see her performance.”Salvi also highlighted Kaur’s role in guiding the young players.He added, “And working from a work ethic point of view, she keeps working on the basics. She shares a lot of experience with the youngsters. So that’s also a dimension where she comes in. At times, there is a lot of information available, but coming from someone who has performed so well at the highest level, those little things that she shares with the players, that really help boost the careers of many youngsters.”South African all-rounder Chloe Tryon, who plays with Kaur for Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League, also acknowledged the Indian captain’s achievement.“200 games is a lot. She makes it look easy. I’ve had the opportunity to play with her, watch her do her thing. It’s remarkable to see her journey, even when I was a little girl, just watching the big players. She’s been a role model for so many people around the world. It’s amazing to see her still playing cricket, and leading from the front, which is really good to see. Hopefully, she has 200 more. I don’t know how many more she can go through.” But look, it’s great to see how the women’s game has evolved and how it has taken the game forward.“South Africa need a win after losing to Australia in their opening match in Manchester before beating Pakistan at Edgbaston.Meanwhile, India has won both its matches so far by defeating Pakistan and Netherlands.Despite India’s strong start to the tournament, South Africa have had the upper hand in recent encounters between the two teams. The Proteas recently won the five-match T20 series 4-1 at home.

“Sir, it’s not ice and fire, it’s fire and fire,” Sanju Samson had joked of his opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma after India’s T20 World Cup glory. It seems that this sentiment has spread to the junior Indian team as well.

India A is set to face Sri Lanka A in the final of the tri-series to be played in Dambulla on Sunday, June 21. From an early exit from the tournament to becoming the first team to qualify for the finals, it has been quite a week for the Indian team.

In their first match of the tournament, India A had a narrow escape against the host teamSri Lanka A. In the second game, they lost to Afghanistan A in a rain-interrupted contest. Then, in their third game against Sri Lanka A, Tilak’s team lost to the hosts in a scrappy Super Over.

Tilak Verma and Vaibhav Suryavanshi were in different controversiesA stain on the team’s tour.

When their chances of qualification were looking slim indeed, India A produced a brilliant performance in their final round-robin game against Afghanistan A. The margin of victory was so strong that from the brink of elimination, India became the first team to qualify for the A finals, leaving Afghanistan and Sri Lanka battling for the remaining spots.

If that’s not fire and fire, I don’t know what is.

Tilak Verma Captain

If there is any cricketer who has learned the most from this series, it is Tilak Verma. After a narrow victory against Sri Lanka, a crushing defeat at the hands of Afghanistan and then a crushing defeat by Sri Lanka, Tilak had to move quickly in a short period of time.

“As a captain, the biggest learning for me is to understand each player – how they react under pressure, what is their mindset and how to get the best out of them. I spend a lot of time with the players off the field as it helps me understand them better,” Tilak Verma told Sportstar.

He said, “I have seen Rohit bhai do that with Mumbai Indians and the Indian team. I know how important those relationships become when you are in the middle. I have tried to implement some of those things here and it is working well so far.”

Verma will be crucial to India’s chances in the final – both as captain and as a batsman. Along with the willow, he has provided stability in the middle overs, a phase that has proven difficult for all teams in the competition.

Will we get a Vaibhav Suryavanshi show?

The prodigiously talented Vaibhav Suryavanshi has not been able to set the tri-series on fire yet.

Whenever he has come out to bat, he has looked in good form. But despite getting the start, he has not been able to convert it into a big score yet.

The Sri Lankans seem to have found a way to trap him with off-spin, and it’s a ploy that everyone will probably be keeping a close eye on. If this is a lack in glory then other teams will definitely try to take advantage of it in the near future.

The India A captain said that the string of mediocre scores is not a matter of concern and the team does not feel that Vaibhav needs to play his cricket differently. The youngster has the captain’s backing and is unlikely to change his style.

Sri Lanka nailed the fight

One thing that perhaps needs to be said about Sri Lanka A is that there are many senior players in this team.

Opening batsmen Avishka Fernando and Niroshan Dickwella are seasoned professionals in international cricket, and so is Sadira Samarawickrama.

The kind of confrontation that happened in the teams’ last game should have been addressed on the spot by the senior members on the field.

One wonders whether Sri Lanka will reach Sunday’s final in similar fashion again. If they do, things can go wrong very quickly.

And this will be the true test of India A. Especially their captain Tilak Verma – Can he combine his fire with ice to keep a hold on his team and the game?

Are there any weaknesses in India?

India A’s bowling remained a cause for concern till the last game.

Sri Lanka A’s top order has dominated the Indian pace attack in both the matches. But the team came back strong with the ball in their final round-robin game against Afghanistan, which is basically the development that Tilak talked about before the final.

India’s spinners are expected to perform well, but fast bowling remains a matter of concern.

india a vs sri lanka livestreaming

India A vs Sri Lanka A match will start at 10 AM IST. The toss will take place at 9:30 am.

india a vs sri lanka a pitch report

The pitches have been favorable for spin throughout the tournament and it is expected that the slow bowlers will once again be favored in the final.

However, what can make a real difference is the wind, which can bring swing into the game.

Strong winds are expected during match hours. There is no possibility of rain.

India A vs Sri Lanka A Predicted Playing XI

India A’s probable playing XI: Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Verma (captain), Ayush Badoni, Suryansh Shedge, Nishant Sindhu, Anukul Roy, Arshad Khan, Vipraj Nigam, Yash Thakur.

Probable playing eleven of Sri Lanka: Niroshan Dickwella (wicketkeeper), Avishka Fernando, Vishen Halambage, Sadira Samarawickrama, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Sahan Arachige (captain), Wanuza Sahan, Vijayakanth Wiyakanth, Kugathas Mathulan, Chamika Gunasekara, Mohammed Shiraz.

– ends

Pakistan are in grave danger of being knocked out of the Women’s T20 World Cup after Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by 20 runs in the Group A match at the prestigious Edgbaston in Birmingham on Saturday. Chasing a target of 164, Pakistan were playing comfortably at 69 for two after 11 overs, but then faced a dramatic and scary batting collapse.

Pakistan managed to score only 20 runs in its last nine overs as Bangladesh snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in amazing fashion. Pakistan still have two matches left in the group stage, but the fate of their qualification is no longer in their own control or hands.

Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Women’s T20 World Cup: highlight | Achievement:

If India beats South Africa in Manchester on Sunday, Pakistan will be officially and mathematically out of the competition.

Joti, Shoorna help Bangladesh recover

Bangladesh recovered from an early collapse at the Rose Bowl to post 123/6. With their semi-final hopes intact, they were in immediate trouble as Fatima Sana struck twice in the opening overs. Dilara Akhtar was out for five, Sharmin Akhtar was out for zero and Zuaria Firdous was out for seven, leaving Bangladesh at 13/3.

Captain Nigar Sultana Joti played an inning of 36 runs in 38 balls and started the innings with five fours. She was well supported by Shobhana Mostori, who scored 22 runs from 19 balls and revived the pair after early damage.

Pakistan’s bowlers maintained a tight control in the middle overs, with Fatima Sana finishing with figures of 4-1-18-2, while Nashra Sandhu was economical, conceding just 14 runs in her four-over spell. Sadia Iqbal, Tasmiya Rubab and Tuba Hasan also took one wicket each.

When it looked like Bangladesh were slipping to a below-average score, Sharn Akter provided the team late momentum with an unbeaten 39 off 22 balls at a strike rate of 177.27. His aggressive innings, which included five fours, took Bangladesh to a competitive end at 92/6. Although the total is not impressive, Bangladesh will take confidence from the resilience shown by their middle and lower order after the early collapse.

Pakistan had to face bad batting

Pakistan faced another disappointing batting performance as Bangladesh restricted them to 100 for 8. Pakistan did not run, but in the first half of the innings they were heading towards a competitive total, with the required run rate hovering around one run-a-ball.

Muniba Ali once again showed resistance at the top, making 25 off 30 balls with one four and a six, but her dismissal on 69 marked the beginning of a steady decline. Gul Firozha had given a fast start, scoring 23 runs in 18 balls and hitting four fours before falling in the first powerplay phase.

The middle order failed to take advantage of this, with Ayesha Zafar (11), Iram Javed (9) and captain Fatima Sana (10) all getting starts but being unable to convert them into meaningful contributions. Pakistan slipped from a good position of 69 for 2 to 84 for 8 and lost six wickets for only 15 runs in a dramatic collapse.

Bangladesh’s spin attack proved decisive, led by Nahida Akhtar, who took 3 for 18, while Sanjeeda Akhtar Meghla also took 3 wickets. Rabeya Khan and Ritu Moni took one wicket each as Pakistan struggled to rotate the strike and build partnerships.

Lower-order batsmen Nashra Sandhu and Tasmiya Rubab added runs late, but by then Pakistan was out of the contest. Pakistan is now eyeing the match between India and South Africa, where India’s victory will officially knock them out of the tournament.

– ends

New Delhi: India made a great start to the chase against Afghanistan in the third ODI at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday, scoring a record 23 runs in the first over.Chasing 219 to win, India started their innings at 5/0 after Afghanistan were penalized five runs during their innings when captain Hashmatullah Shahidi repeatedly ran into the protected area of ​​the pitch.The unusual start helped India enter the record books for the most runs scored in the opening over of an ODI innings by an Indian team.

Most runs by India in the first over of an ODI innings

The record-breaking over was bowled by Azmatullah Umarzai and turned into a nightmare for Afghanistan.After India started at 5/0, Yashasvi Jaiswal Started walking quickly. The left-handed batsman took two runs before hitting a four through the off side. Umarzai then lost control of the over, bowling wide and giving two no-balls while overstepping twice.Jaiswal took full advantage of the free-hit opportunity. He hit a four over long-off and followed it with another four straight over mid-off. A mistimed pull caught at mid-wicket did not count as it was a no-ball.The over ended with Jaiswal hitting another short delivery for four runs, taking India’s tally to 23 runs after only six legal deliveries.Earlier, Afghanistan recovered from a poor start and were all out for 218 runs.Prasidh Krishna was India’s star with the ball, taking a career-best spell of 5/23. The fast bowler destroyed the Afghan top order and reduced their score to 36/4 in the first 10 overs.Afghanistan captain Shahidi then led the fight by scoring a decisive inning of 102 runs off 131 balls, his first ODI century. He made a 105-run partnership with Umarzai, who scored 50, and later added 57 runs with Mohammad Nabi.Despite Shahidi’s efforts, Afghanistan lost their last five wickets for just 20 runs and were all out for 218 runs.

New Zealand could easily be on the brink of an early exit from the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 when they face Ireland in Southampton on Friday. However, the defending champions showed courage to pull off a thrilling four-run win, registering their first win in the tournament after consecutive defeats against West Indies and Sri Lanka.

Defending a modest target of 141 runs, Gabby Lewis and Orla Prendergast put together a 110-run partnership for the second wicket, putting New Zealand under immense pressure. But veteran Suzie Bates used all her experience to defend 15 runs in the final over and give the White Ferns victory.

New Zealand vs Ireland, Women’s T20 World Cup: highlight | Achievement:

Bates, playing her first match of the tournament, also made valuable contributions with the bat and scored an unbeaten 19 runs in 12 balls, which included a six off the last ball of New Zealand’s innings.

The White Ferns adopted an attacking approach at the top of the order, but it backfired as they were reduced to 10 for three within four overs. After this, captain Amelia Kerr, Brooke Halliday, Izzy Sharp and Bates together took over the innings and took New Zealand to a competitive score of 140 runs for six wickets.

‘It was our choice to play aggressively’

Speaking after the match, fast bowler Jess Kerr revealed that New Zealand deliberately chose to play with positive intent despite a poor start to the tournament. He also praised his teammates for showing tremendous character and composure in the death overs when Ireland looked set to snatch the match.

“Yes, look, it was not the start we wanted and it was down to our choice how we wanted to perform today. And T20 cricket doesn’t always go your way, but I think the character the group showed on the last ball speaks volumes about this team and our grit and determination. And yes, really happy to get one on the board today,” Kerr said in the post-match press conference.

‘Fielding disappointed us’

Kerr believes that despite the defeat, New Zealand’s batting and bowling performances in the first two matches were not far from expectations. He admitted that fielding has been the team’s biggest concern but stressed that the players never lost faith in their approach.

Kerr said, “We created chances and we would always like to score more runs and take more wickets, but perhaps the fielding let us down. The professional game is tough and there are always ups and downs, but you have to keep the belief.”

He said that New Zealand is committed to its aggressive playing style and has no intention of abandoning it after two defeats.

“We’ve always said we want to go out and attack and it doesn’t take two defeats to change that approach,” he said.

Still reeling from the opening defeat, New Zealand face Katherine Bryce’s Scotland at the County Ground in Bristol on Tuesday, June 23. But their biggest match will be against England on June 27, a contest that could ultimately decide whether they reach the semi-finals or miss out on the top four.

– ends

India vs Afghanistan Live Score: India have already sealed the ODI series against Afghanistan with impressive wins in Dharamsala and Lucknow, but there is still a lot at stake in the third and final ODI to be held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.

With a 2-0 lead in the bag, Shubman Gill’s side will aim to complete a clean sweep, while also continuing to evaluate their squad’s depth ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Team India focused on experiment
India entered the series with a clear objective of assessing their bench strength and this process is expected to continue in Chennai as well. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate confirmed that changes would be made to the final eleven.

The series has already brought out many positives. Ishan Kishan took advantage of his opportunity and scored a explosive century while batting at number 4 in Lucknow. Captain Shubman Gill has continued his excellent form, scoring a brilliant 154 in the second ODI and proving equally effective at No. 3 in the absence of Virat Kohli.

Young fast bowler Gurnoor Brar has also impressed with his pace, bounce and ability to hit at awkward lengths, attributes that could prove valuable in South African conditions during the 2027 World Cup.

India are expected to give more chances to Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is being pegged as a left-handed opening option and a possible backup to Rohit Sharma. Nitish Kumar Reddy, now fully fit after recovering from thigh pain, remains in the headlines as India look for an all-round solution in the absence of Hardik Pandya. Prince Yadav and Harsh Dubey are also likely to remain in contention as the team continues to evaluate its next generation of talent.

KL Rahul may be rested after the series win, which will open the way for Kishan to remain behind the stumps. Fast bowler Harshit Rana has also returned to the team after recovering from knee surgery.

Afghanistan eyes consolation win
For Afghanistan, the final ODI represents an opportunity to avoid a series whitewash and end the tour on a positive note. The visitors lost badly in Lucknow, where India posted a mammoth total of 402 runs after Afghanistan decided to bowl first. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi admitted after the defeat that his team was “not good enough” that day.

Afghanistan’s struggles have been largely due to an inconsistent batting lineup and the absence of key players. Experienced all-rounder Mohammad Nabi missed the second ODI due to a viral infection, while Azmatullah Omarzai was ruled out due to injury. If both pass their fitness test, they are expected to return for the series finale.

The visitors will once again rely heavily on their two biggest match-winners, opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz and star spinner Rashid Khan, to challenge a confident Indian team.

pitch and weather report
The match will be played on pitch number 4 at Chepauk, which is a red clay surface that traditionally provides good bounce and carry. While Chennai has long been known for spin-friendly conditions, recent matches have produced more batting-friendly tracks. However, as the game progresses, quality spinners like Rashid Khan can still achieve grip and variable bounce.

The weather is expected to be hot and humid, with temperatures hovering around 35 degrees Celsius. Although there is a slight chance of rain in the afternoon, conditions are expected to remain largely suitable for the entire match.

With the series already decided, India will continue to look forward towards the future, while Afghanistan will be looking for glory and a better performance in the final ODI.