Sharjah Warriorz have appointed experienced South African coach Adrian Birrell as their new head coach ahead of the upcoming International League T20 (ILT20) season. Birrell, 65, brings extensive international and franchise coaching experience to the Warriorz. He is best known for his successful spell as Ireland head coach between 2002 and 2007, a period that included Ireland's memorable run to the Super Eight stage of the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. The South African later served as an assistant coach with the national team from 2013 to 2017 before moving into franchise cricket, where he established himself as one of the most successful coaches in the format. Birrell has enjoyed particular success with Sunrisers Eastern Cape, guiding the franchise to three SA20 titles. He is also currently involved in The Hundred, where he is in charge of Sunrisers Leeds in the women's competition. Speaking after his appointment, Birrell expressed his excitement about taking charge of Sharjah Warriorz. “I am delighted to be joining the Sharjah Warriorz ahead of the upcoming ILT20 season. I am excited to work with this talented group of players and support staff as we build a new campaign.” Birrell said his primary focus would be on building a strong team culture and developing a winning mentality within the squad. “Our objective will be to create a strong team culture, maintain high standards and instill a winning mindset among everyone.” Before beginning his coaching career, Birrell enjoyed a playing career with Eastern Province in South Africa between 1984-85 and 1997-98. He scored 1,480 runs in 45 first-class matches and also claimed 75 wickets with his leg-spin bowling. Birrell takes charge of a Sharjah Warriorz side looking to make a significant turnaround. The franchise finished at the bottom of the ILT20 standings in the 2025-26 season and are still searching for their first title in the competition. The fifth season of the ILT20 is scheduled to take place from November 22 to December 20, with matches being staged across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. The tournament has been brought forward from its traditional window. The appointment comes amid a series of coaching and strategic changes within the Knight Riders Group, which owns Sharjah Warriorz as well as the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. Former Netherlands batter and former India batting coach Ryan ten Doeschate was appointed head of cricket strategy at the Knight Riders Group last month. With Birrell's experience of international and franchise cricket, Sharjah Warriorz will hope his arrival can help transform their fortunes and give the team a stronger challenge in the upcoming ILT20 season.

Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed is preparing for a memorable return to Australia, 14 years after his first visit to the country as an Under-19 cricketer. Taskin’s first trip to Australia came at the 2012 Under-19 World Cup, where he dismissed Travis Head in a quarter-final match. Fourteen years later, he could open the bowling against Head again, this time in a Test match in Darwin as Bangladesh begin a long-awaited series against Australia. Taskin described the opportunity as a proud moment for himself and his teammates.“We are really honoured to be here to be playing the Test series against Australia. No doubt Australia is one of the biggest teams in the world and playing in Australia against Australia in Test cricket, it's a really proud moment for every one of our players.” The Bangladesh seamer admitted that Australia remains one of his favourite places to play cricket. He has already represented his country in the 2015 ODI World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, but despite making his international debut against Australia in a T20I in Mirpur 12 years ago, he has never faced them in an international match on Australian soil. Taskin also revealed his admiration for Australia's legendary fast bowlers, having grown up watching them from Bangladesh.“From my childhood, I've been watching Australia team players, like great fast bowlers, legendary players. Really now I have the opportunity to play against them. So I'm really excited.” He specifically mentioned Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Scott Boland as players he has admired. For Bangladesh, however, the series is about much more than fulfilling a childhood dream. Matches against Australia are rare, making the upcoming Test series an important opportunity for the visitors to prove themselves in unfamiliar conditions. Bangladesh enter the series with some confidence after recording a memorable 2-1 ODI series victory over Australia in Mirpur only two months ago. Their fast bowlers produced impressive performances in sporting conditions, although Australia's Test stars Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Head were not part of that series. Taskin believes that victory has given Bangladesh valuable confidence, even while acknowledging the significant difference between playing at home and away.“We all played a good series and we won against Australia. That's giving us really good confidence to play against them. But still, home and away, there is a big difference.” That difference was evident in Bangladesh's tour match against a Cricket Australia XI in Darwin. Bangladesh were bowled out for just 54 before suffering an innings defeat. Campbell Thompson, a 22-year-old South Australian seamer with only three first-class wickets before the match, produced a stunning performance with eight wickets for 25 runs. Earlier, Teague Wyllie struck 130 against a Bangladesh attack led by Taskin, giving the hosts a strong advantage before Thompson dismantled the visitors' batting order. Taskin admitted the defeat was disappointing but viewed the match as useful preparation ahead of the Test series.“That wasn't a great feeling after losing against Cricket Australia, that practice game. But in cricket that happens. We are also still trying to adjust to the conditions and pitches quickly.” Australia's Travis Head, meanwhile, played down the significance of the tour-match result. He pointed out that players often have their attention focused on the upcoming international match rather than a practice game. Head said Bangladesh would naturally be disappointed by the result but suggested their main focus would already be on the Test beginning Thursday. For Taskin, the series represents both a personal milestone and a major challenge. After first visiting Australia as a teenager in 2012, he now has the chance to share the field with some of the players he grew up admiring—and potentially face Travis Head once again, this time with a Test match at stake.

Liam Livingstone produced a match-winning performance against his former side as London Spirit defeated Birmingham Phoenix by seven wickets in The Hundred men’s competition. The result was particularly damaging for Phoenix, who suffered their sixth defeat in seven matches and remained at the bottom of the table. Both teams had entered the contest with just one win, but Spirit held their nerve to claim a comfortable victory. Phoenix once again relied heavily on Joe Clarke, their leading run-scorer of the tournament. Clarke found little support early in the innings as Mitchell Owen, Joe Weatherley and Laurie Evans all departed for single-figure scores. London Spirit's bowlers kept the pressure on, with spinners James Coles and Mason Crane working effectively in tandem. Clarke eventually found support from Sean Dickson, and the pair rebuilt the innings with an important 92-run partnership from 47 balls. Their stand was broken when debutant Henry Crocombe dismissed Clarke with the first ball of his only set, with Liam Livingstone taking the catch. Phoenix accelerated during the second half of their innings, adding 109 runs. Captain Donovan Ferreira provided a late boost to take Birmingham Phoenix to 162 for four, giving them what appeared to be a competitive total. Spirit's chase got off to a disastrous start when Jonny Bairstow departed after just three balls, having scored only six runs. However, Livingstone quickly turned the momentum in Spirit's favour. Facing his former team, he joined Lhuan-dre Pretorius's replacement and then formed a devastating partnership with Dewald Brevis. The pair attacked the Phoenix bowlers relentlessly. Livingstone raced to his half-century from just 21 balls, including a huge 104-metre six, while Brevis also found the boundary with regularity. Despite their aggression, the pair managed the chase intelligently, particularly against Usman Tariq, who bowled an excellent spell and conceded just 13 runs from his 20 balls. By the time the pair accelerated again, Spirit had reduced the required rate to just one run per ball with 45 balls remaining. Livingstone eventually finished with a spectacular 66 from 30 balls, while Brevis completed the job in style. The South African smashed an unbeaten 55 from 31 balls as London Spirit reached their target with 18 balls to spare. Livingstone was named the Meerkat Match Hero for his explosive innings. After the match, Livingstone praised his partnership with Brevis and said the pitch offered good conditions for batting. The victory gives London Spirit a much-needed boost, while Birmingham Phoenix face an increasingly difficult battle at the bottom of the Hundred table.

Matthew Forde held his nerve in a dramatic final over as St Lucia Kings defeated Antigua and Barbuda Falcons by four runs in a closely fought Caribbean Premier League 2026 encounter in Kingstown. Chasing 188 for victory, the Falcons needed 13 runs from the final over and appeared to have the momentum after a late surge from Fabian Allen. However, Forde delivered under pressure, conceding just eight runs to seal a thrilling victory for the Kings. The game had swung heavily in favour of the Falcons earlier in the chase, with the win probability at one stage close to 90 percent. But the Kings' bowlers fought back brilliantly in the middle overs to turn the contest into a tense finish. Allen played an important role in the final stages, but he faced only two deliveries in the last over. Jahmar Hamilton, who partnered him for the first part of the over, struggled to find the boundary and managed only 10 runs from 20 balls during a crucial phase of the chase. The Falcons made a flying start to their pursuit of 188. Evin Lewis was the main architect, helping the side cross 30 runs inside the first three overs alongside Rahkeem Cornwall. Cornwall soon departed, becoming the first of two wickets for Maheesh Theekshana, but Lewis continued his aggressive approach. The Falcons reached 65 runs in the powerplay and moved to 109 by the halfway stage, although Theekshana had struck again to keep the Kings in the contest. The momentum shifted decisively in the 11th over when Joshua Bishop dismissed Lewis for a well-made 42 off 24 balls. Roston Chase then added to the pressure by removing Karima Gore and Tajinder Singh. After 16 overs, the Falcons were struggling at 145 for five and required 43 runs from the final four overs. The 17th and 18th overs further tilted the contest towards the Kings, producing only four and nine runs respectively. Just when the Kings appeared to have taken control, Allen reignited the chase in the 19th over, smashing Shadley van Schalkwyk for a six and a four. With 13 needed from the final over, the match was firmly in the balance. Forde, however, produced the decisive moment of the contest. His composed final over restricted the Falcons to eight runs and secured a four-run victory for St Lucia Kings. Earlier, the Kings had posted 187 for their opponents to chase, thanks largely to a superb innings from Player of the Match Andries Gous. Gous was in complete control from the opening delivery, scoring 82 from 51 balls and batting until midway through the 18th over. His innings provided the foundation for the Kings' total despite inconsistent contributions from the rest of the batting order. Ackeem Auguste was the next-highest scorer with 18 from 20 balls, highlighting how heavily the Kings depended on Gous. The Falcons' bowlers did a good job of taking regular wickets, with Alzarri Joseph once again leading the attack. Joseph finished with impressive figures of 3 for 32, following his 3 for 34 in the previous game. Despite losing wickets around him, Gous never allowed the Falcons to gain complete control of the innings. His aggressive and composed knock ultimately proved decisive as the Kings held their nerve at the finish to register a memorable four-run victory.

Afghanistan moved a step closer to securing direct qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup after defeating Ireland in the second ODI of their five-match series in Bready. With the top eight ODI teams as of September 2026 set to qualify directly for the World Cup, Afghanistan now need just one more victory to strengthen their place in the tournament. Afghanistan produced an impressive all-round performance in the second ODI. Ibrahim Zadran anchored the innings with a composed 84, while Hashmatullah Shahidi, batting at No. 7 for the first time in his career, provided a late surge with an unbeaten 36 off just 21 balls. The bowlers then completed the job. Mohammad Saleem generated considerable pace and movement and troubled the Irish batting line-up, although he was also Afghanistan's most expensive bowler on the day. Ireland had opportunities in both innings but failed to capitalise. Afghanistan scored 95 runs in the final 11 overs of their innings, allowing the visitors to finish strongly. During the chase, Ireland appeared to remain in contention when they required 156 runs from 137 balls with seven wickets in hand. However, Afghanistan turned the match around dramatically, claiming seven wickets for just 63 runs to bowl Ireland out and secure a convincing 92-run victory. Cade Carmichael was one of Ireland's bright spots, scoring 62 to keep his side in the contest. On ODI debut, Ben Calitz also impressed with a quick 27 from 15 deliveries at No. 7. The defeat leaves Ireland 0-1 behind in the five-match series after the opening ODI was abandoned. They will now be under pressure to bounce back and prevent Afghanistan from extending their dominance. Ireland have not beaten Afghanistan in an ODI since May 2019, having lost their last eight encounters. They are also searching for their first ODI series victory over Afghanistan since December 2017. Rahmat Shah's Winning Start as Captain The match also marked a significant occasion for Rahmat Shah, who led Afghanistan for the first time in any format. Although he contributed only 30 runs with the bat, his tactical decisions proved effective. One of the key moves was promoting Hashmatullah Shahidi down the order, allowing him to play the role of a finisher. The decision paid off as Shahidi's unbeaten 36 helped Afghanistan finish strongly. Rahmat also benefited from an impressive bowling performance, with all five of his bowlers making an impact. Meanwhile, Ireland's Jai Moondra will be looking to make a strong comeback after an expensive ODI debut. The left-arm quick conceded 78 runs in nine overs while taking one wicket. Afghanistan's Road to the World Cup Afghanistan's latest victory puts them within touching distance of direct qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Another win would put them in a strong position to secure their place among the top eight sides. For Ireland, the challenge is now to respond quickly. With the series still alive, they will hope their young players can build on the positives from the second ODI while their experienced middle order finds its rhythm. The third ODI is expected to be played in Bready under cloudy conditions. The pitch's uneven dimensions can make batting difficult, although Friday's match showed that runs can come quickly when batters settle in. Afghanistan will be confident after their commanding performance, while Ireland will be desperate to end their long wait for an ODI win over their opponents. Key statistic: Mohammad Saleem's ODI bowling average of 247 is the second-worst among bowlers who have taken at least one wicket and bowled 150 or more balls in the format. Jai Moondra, meanwhile, became only the fourth left-arm fast bowler to represent Ireland in an ODI.

India have named middle-order batter Sarfaraz Khan as the replacement for injured Sai Sudharsan for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Sudharsan has been ruled out of the series after suffering a right toe stress reaction. The batter has been undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru and has made significant progress in his recovery, according to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Sarfaraz, meanwhile, returns to India's Test squad after nearly two years. The 27-year-old last played a Test in 2024, the same year he made his international debut. He has featured in six Tests so far, scoring 371 runs at the highest level, including one century and three half-centuries. He was part of India's squad for the 2024-25 tour of Australia but did not feature in a match. He was subsequently left out of the squad for India's Test tour of England last year. Sarfaraz's domestic record remains impressive. He was Mumbai's third-highest run-scorer during the 2025 Ranji Trophy season, accumulating 429 runs in seven matches at an average of 53.62. His first-class batting average of 64.73 remains among the best for players with at least 50 innings. Gill Declared Fit for First Test India have also received a positive update regarding captain Shubman Gill, who missed India's first innings in the tour game against Sri Lanka Cricket XI. Gill's absence was described as a precautionary measure by India's spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule. The captain returned to the crease in the second innings and scored a fluent 44 off 54 deliveries, helping India complete the chase on the final day. "Gill has been absolutely fine and he's been training," Bahutule said after the tour game. "The management decided we could take the precaution of not putting him in on the first day. The way he batted in the second innings was flawless and he's very much ready for the Test match." The update will come as a boost to India, who have already suffered several injury setbacks ahead of the Sri Lanka series. Jasprit Bumrah and Washington Sundar are among the key players ruled out of the tour. Test Series to Begin in Galle The two-match Test series between India and Sri Lanka will begin on August 15 in Galle, with the second Test scheduled to start on August 23 at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo. The series will form part of the World Test Championship (WTC). India currently occupy fifth place in the WTC standings after recording four wins and four losses from nine matches. With Sudharsan unavailable, Sarfaraz's return provides India with another middle-order option as they prepare for the challenging conditions in Sri Lanka. India's Test Squad Shubman Gill (captain), KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain, Auqib Nabi, Sarfaraz Khan.

Manchester Super Giants kept their qualification hopes alive with a hard-fought 10-run victory over Southern Brave, moving into the top three and setting up a crucial final game of the tournament. Batting first, the Super Giants posted 149 for 8 after a strong start was followed by a dramatic late collapse. Paul Walter was the star of the innings, smashing a powerful 64 from just 37 balls, including six fours and four sixes. Walter, playing only his second match of the tournament, provided the momentum Manchester needed. He was well supported by Tim Seifert, who scored a brisk 55 from 34 deliveries. The pair put on an imposing opening stand before Seifert was run out by a direct hit from Moeen Ali. The Super Giants appeared set for a much bigger total after reaching 119 without loss from 63 balls. However, Southern Brave fought back strongly in the final stages. Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid applied the pressure with disciplined bowling, conceding only 38 runs between them as Manchester finished on 149 for 8. Southern Brave needed 150 to keep their knockout hopes alive, but their chase never quite reached full momentum. Jamie Smith struggled to accelerate early in the innings, scoring 26 from 25 balls. With 56 runs required from the final 25 deliveries, Tristan Stubbs and Marcus Stoinis revived Brave's hopes with a series of aggressive shots. The breakthrough came when Josh Tongue dismissed Stoinis with a superb slower delivery. David Miller joined Stubbs at the crease, and the South African pair continued to attack. Stubbs reached an explosive half-century from 37 balls, leaving Southern Brave requiring 40 runs from the final 12 deliveries. Miller's dismissal, however, proved decisive. Leus du Plooy produced an excellent tumbling catch to send the experienced finisher back to the pavilion and leave Brave's hopes hanging by a thread. Nikhil Chaudhary's late hitting briefly gave the home crowd something to cheer about, but Gus Atkinson held his nerve in the closing overs. His accurate yorkers and excellent execution at the death restricted Southern Brave to 139 for 6. Atkinson finished with impressive figures of 2 for 19, while the Super Giants' bowling attack successfully defended what had initially appeared to be a modest total. The victory keeps Manchester Super Giants firmly in the qualification race. They will face SunRisers Leeds on Tuesday in a potentially decisive final league match, with a win — preferably by a convincing margin — giving them an excellent chance of progressing to the knockout stages. Walter delighted with crucial contribution Match Hero Paul Walter admitted that his innings was not his most elegant but was pleased to have made a significant contribution when his team needed it most. "We're obviously delighted to get the result and we roll on to the last game. I wouldn't say it was my finest knock today, a bit agricultural! But it's been a low-scoring ground this year so I just wanted to get off to a flier and keep going." Reflecting on his return to the side, Walter said the team's objective was clear from the moment he was selected. "You just want to come in and make an impact. I knew when I came in that we needed to win all three to give ourselves a chance of qualifying, and I just wanted to do what I can to help the side." Walter also praised his team's bowlers for defending the total after Manchester's late batting collapse. "I thought 150 at halfway was still a good score even if we were a bit disappointed at the way we went at the back-end there, and I thought the boys bowled brilliantly to defend it." With their campaign now entering its decisive stage, Manchester Super Giants will head into Tuesday's clash with renewed confidence and qualification firmly within their reach.

Galle Gallants secured their maiden Lanka Premier League (LPL) title after defeating Jaffna Kings by five wickets in a low-scoring final at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Chasing 124 for victory, Galle reached 126 for five with 25 balls remaining, completing a memorable campaign with their first LPL championship. The foundation for Galle's victory was laid by Charith Asalanka and Eshan Malinga, who combined to take six wickets and restrict Jaffna to 123. Asalanka claimed three wickets for 20 runs, while Malinga finished with three for 25. Malinga's performance also saw him move to the top of the tournament's wicket-takers' list. He finished the competition with 17 wickets at an economy rate of 9.32. Jaffna struggled to build momentum throughout their innings, with wicketkeeper-opener Kamil Mishara providing the main resistance. Mishara scored 41 from 32 deliveries before Malinga ended his innings in the 13th over. Chamindu Wickramasinghe added a quick 25 off 16 balls, but regular wickets prevented Jaffna from posting a competitive total. Tharindu Ratnayake also played an important role with the ball, taking two wickets for 14 runs. Galle's chase got off to a difficult start when Sam Harper was dismissed in the opening over. However, Australian opener Tom Rogers steadied the innings with an aggressive 34 from 27 balls. Jaffna captain Shakib Al Hasan briefly shifted the momentum in the ninth over, removing Rogers and Dinura Kalupahana, who had scored a rapid 31 from 19 balls. Chamika Karunaratne was dismissed soon afterwards, leaving Galle needing further contributions to finish the chase. Dasun Shanaka and Sahan Arachchige held their nerve to guide Galle across the finish line, completing a five-wicket victory and sparking celebrations among the Gallants players and supporters. The triumph marks a historic moment for Galle Gallants, who claimed their first LPL crown after a disciplined bowling performance and a composed chase in the final.

Mitchell Santner produced a sensational unbeaten half-century as Trent Rockets strengthened their position in The Hundred with a six-wicket victory over MI London at the Kia Oval. Chasing 148 for victory, Trent Rockets reached their target with 10 balls to spare, securing their sixth consecutive win and guaranteeing a top-three finish. The result leaves the Rockets within touching distance of a direct place in the final. The chase initially looked uncertain for the Rockets after they lost three wickets inside the first 30 balls. Tom Curran dismissed Finn Allen, while Aneurin Donald fell for 23 from just 10 deliveries after a costly mix-up in the running between the wickets. Sam Billings was then brilliantly caught and bowled by Richard Gleeson for a duck, leaving Trent Rockets struggling at 46 for 3. Ben Duckett attempted to rebuild the innings but found it difficult to score freely, making 27 from 26 balls before edging behind off Gleeson. With the Rockets needing a substantial partnership, Santner and Tim David stepped up at the crucial moment. The pair put together an unbeaten 78-run fifth-wicket partnership, completely changing the momentum of the chase. Santner was particularly destructive, finishing unbeaten on 52 from only 23 balls, while David contributed an unbeaten 32 from 24 deliveries. MI London also missed several opportunities in the field, dropping three catches in the space of 13 balls as the Rockets took control of the contest. Earlier, MI London made a strong start after being asked to bat. Will Jacks attacked immediately, scoring 16 runs from Matt Henry's opening five deliveries. However, Trent Rockets responded with some outstanding fielding. Tim David took an excellent catch off Craig Overton to dismiss James Vince, before Ben Duckett produced a superb direct hit from extra cover to run out Nicholas Pooran. Calvin Harrison then added another moment of brilliance, taking a one-handed caught-and-bowled chance to dismiss Jacks for 39 from 26 balls. MI London were reduced to 70 for 3 after 56 deliveries. Sam Curran then took responsibility for the innings, striking three sixes in five deliveries on his way to a commanding 72 from 46 balls. However, he received little support from the rest of the batting order. Ollie Pope was retired out after scoring only eight from nine balls, while Sikandar Raza made 16 from 11 deliveries. Sherfane Rutherford fell for a golden duck to Lewis Gregory, who later returned to dismiss Curran for a career-best score in The Hundred. Despite Curran's efforts, MI London's total of 147 for 7 was not enough to challenge a Rockets side with an impressive record in run chases. The victory means Trent Rockets have now won six of their seven matches and are guaranteed a top-three finish. They will secure direct passage to the final if they defeat Southern Brave in their next match on Monday. MI London, meanwhile, face a crucial encounter against bottom-placed Birmingham Phoenix at Edgbaston on Wednesday. A defeat could end their hopes of reaching Friday's Eliminator. Speaking after the match, Santner said the team was pleased with its run of victories but remained focused on finishing at the top of the table. "Six wins out of seven but we're not guaranteed to finish top. We know it's a big game on Monday, and we know there are quality teams throughout this competition, so it's going to be a tight finish," Santner said.

The Sri Lankan Professional Cricketers’ Association (SLPCA) was officially launched on Saturday, marking a significant step towards stronger player representation and modernisation of cricket administration in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka men’s white-ball captain Kusal Mendis has been appointed as the association’s inaugural president. The new body has received strong backing from leading players, including women’s captain Chamari Athapaththu and star allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga. The SLPCA has been established as an independent and collective voice for professional cricketers, with the aim of representing players’ interests and working with cricket authorities on issues affecting their careers and welfare. “The formation of the SLPCA comes at a landmark time for Sri Lankan cricket,” the association said in a media release, pointing to ongoing reforms and efforts to strengthen governance and modernise the country’s domestic cricket structure. Players’ Voice Amid Cricket Reforms The launch comes at a time of significant administrative change in Sri Lankan cricket. Sri Lanka Cricket is currently undergoing a major reform process under a government-appointed Transformation Committee, while work is also underway on a new constitution for the sport. The SLPCA said the creation of an organised players’ body would complement those reforms and help establish a more collaborative cricketing environment aligned with international standards. “Alongside the governance reforms and transformation work already underway, having a genuine, organised player voice is another important step toward a modern, collaborative game that is aligned with international best practice,” the release said. Affiliation With World Cricketers’ Association The SLPCA is directly affiliated with the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA), giving Sri Lankan players access to international player-advocacy networks, welfare programmes and other global initiatives. The development also strengthens Sri Lanka’s representation within the international players’ movement. Earlier this year, Chamari Athapaththu was appointed to the WCA Player Advisory Board. Sri Lanka had previously been among the major cricketing nations without a formally recognised players’ association affiliated with the WCA, alongside countries such as India and Pakistan. The SLPCA now brings Sri Lanka closer to the player-representation structures already established in countries such as Australia, England and New Zealand. Platform to Address Player Concerns The formation of the association could also provide players with a central platform to address recurring issues between cricketers and Sri Lanka Cricket. Disagreements over no-objection certificates, fitness requirements and players’ participation in overseas franchise competitions have highlighted the need for a structured mechanism through which players can negotiate with administrators. Unlike the previous Sri Lanka Cricketers’ Association, which existed intermittently from 2001 and was criticised for having a strong presence of former players, the SLPCA is being led by active cricketers. The association also places men’s and women’s cricket on an equal footing, with leading players from both national teams involved in its formation. Mendis and Athapaththu Welcome New Association Mendis said the players were proud to establish the organisation at an important moment for Sri Lankan cricket. “We're proud to have established SLPCA to represent Sri Lanka's players at this important time, and we look forward to working constructively and collaboratively with Sri Lanka Cricket, the Transformation Committee, and other stakeholders as cricket continues to grow,” Mendis said. Athapaththu also welcomed the move, describing the creation of the players’ association as another important step in Sri Lanka’s cricket reforms. “Through the work of the Transformation Committee, we have already seen great progress in Sri Lankan cricket. The setting up of the Players' Association is another important step forward and sees Sri Lankan cricketers join many of our international colleagues in cricket and other sports who already benefit from effective player representation,” she said. With active international players now at the centre of its leadership, the SLPCA is expected to play an important role in shaping the future relationship between Sri Lankan cricketers and the country’s cricket administrators.