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Bangladesh are cramming extra training sessions into their schedule in a bid to shift their mindset from T20Is to ODIs ahead of the Champions Trophy. Head coach Phil Simmons is confident that the players can get themselves accustomed to the format despite not playing an ODI since December.The BPL ended on February 7, and the following day, some of the players turned up at a training camp at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. These were mainly cricketers whose BPL teams had been knocked out before the final. The team will train in Dhaka till February 12, after which they leave for the Champions Trophy – their first match is against India in Dubai on February 20.”I agree that it is not the best preparation, but they were playing white-ball cricket, which means that they are sharp skills-wise,” Simmons said. “We have to get their minds up to 50-over cricket in the next six or seven days. They have the skills. They are performing. It is about getting to that 50-over mentality now. We will have double practice sessions in the next couple of days. We bat and bowl in the morning, and then do the same under the lights.Related

• Champions Trophy: Teams, players, venues, where to watch

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“We are getting ourselves prepared to bat for 50 overs. The first part of the preparation is about Dubai. Once we can get ourselves in the right frame of mind, and work on the right things for Dubai, I think we can start [preparations for] the rest the competition as well. We will get familiar conditions in Pakistan after that.”Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is a worry, particularly because he hasn’t played a lot in the last couple of months. Shanto missed the tour of the West Indies owing to a hamstring injury. His last international outing was in November last year. He returned with the National Cricket League T20s, and then played five games for Fortune Barishal in the BPL.”He was working very hard all of those days when he wasn’t playing,” Simmons said. “We are going to need a strong mental attitude from everyone in the team. I think he possesses that, so I look forward to him continuing his work.”Simmons admitted that Nahid Rana’s drop in pace towards the back-end of the BPL was a concern, but he was relieved since Rana has upped his pace in the training sessions.”He has looked slower than normal in the last couple of games. The run-up was less than normal approaching the wicket,” Simmons said. “They [Rangpur Riders] got knocked out early so he had a bit of rest. He looked sharp in training yesterday. The pace was coming back. The run-up was as quick as it was in the Caribbean.”This is Simmons’ last assignment in his current contract, and there are questions about the future. But Simmons wasn’t giving any clues.”I won’t be here if I didn’t believe [that we can win],” he said. “I think you prepare as best as you could when you go into a tournament. On that day, you play your best games. That’s what I look to do, on every occasion. I think we have made a lot of strides in the Caribbean. I think we have a good chance once we play to the best of our ability.”

Pakistan opening batter Saim Ayub has been confirmed out for at least another five weeks owing to injury; he continues his rehabilitation from the ankle injury he sustained in South Africa in January. It further confirms that he will not be available for the Champions Trophy, which runs until March 9, and the extent of his involvement in Pakistan’s white-ball series in New Zealand after that remains uncertain.A PCB statement said Ayub was “progressing well in his right ankle fracture injury”. He remains in England, where he will complete the remainder of his rehabilitation, and has been ruled out for 10 weeks from the time of his injury, which he picked up while fielding in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town five weeks ago.Ayub had to be stretchered off the pitch in just the seventh over of the match, when Ryan Rickelton edged a delivery through the slips, sending Ayub off on a chase to deep third alongside Aamer Jamal. Jamal pulled it back in as Ayub stood poised to be the relay fielder, but lost his balance and twisted his ankle. He went down immediately and appeared in anguish holding the lower part of his leg as the physio rushed on.Related

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Despite prolonged treatment outside the boundary line, Ayub was unable to put any weight on his right ankle, and appeared to be in tears as he was placed on to a stretcher and taken off. He was later seen on crutches in the medical booth.The PCB initially said he would be ruled out for six weeks, which offered some hope of his availability for the Champions Trophy, which Pakistan host. Last week the board announced the squad for the tournament, with Ayub absent from it.A week after the Champions Trophy final, Pakistan embark upon an eight-match white-ball tour of New Zealand, playing five T20Is and three ODIs between 16 March and 5 April. The Pakistan Super League starts on 8 April.

Tamim Iqbal has announced his retirement from international cricket. This is the second time he has called time on his career, having previously retired in July 2023 in an emotionally charged press conference, only to reverse the decision within 24 hours after intervention from Bangladesh’s then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina.Tamim informed the Bangladesh selectors of his decision in Sylhet on Wednesday. The Gazi Ashraf Hossain-led selection panel asked him to return to the Bangladesh team for the Champions Trophy. Tamim had reportedly told them then that he would stick to his decision to retire, but after a few Bangladesh players, including captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, had requested him to reconsider, he took a day longer.”I have been away from international cricket for a long time,” he wrote on Facebook. “That distance will remain. My chapter in international cricket is over. I have been thinking about this for a long time. Now that a big event like the Champions Trophy is coming up, I do not want to be the focus of anyone’s attention, which could lead to the team losing their focus. Of course, I did not want this to happen before, too.Related

• Champions Trophy 2025: Shakib Al Hasan, and other topics on Bangladesh's selectors' plate

• Tamim reverses retirement decision

• The winter of Tamim Iqbal

• Will Tamim Iqbal return for the Champions Trophy?

“Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto sincerely asked me to return to the team. There were discussions with the selection committee too. I am grateful to them for still considering me in the team. However, I have listened to my own heart.”The deadline for announcing the Champions Trophy squads is January 12, and the BCB was willing to wait till the last minute to see if Tamim wants to play. Tamim remained in contention for his domestic form and fitness. He has not played an international game since then but continued to play domestic cricket, including winning the 2024 BPL with the Barishal franchise and finishing as the Player of the Tournament. He did well in the Dhaka Premier League, and then followed it up with more runs in the domestic NCL T20s and this BPL season too, he has been among the runs.Tamim said BCB waiting for his reply was “unnecessary” considering he opted out of central contracts for 2024 to keep himself out of Bangladesh reckoning.”I removed myself from the BCB central contract a long time ago because I did not want to return to international cricket,” he wrote. “Many have said that I have left the matter hanging. Why would anyone discuss a cricketer who is no longer in BCB’s contracted list? I voluntarily stepped down more than a year ago.”Even after that, there has been unnecessary discussion. The decision to retire or continue playing is the right of a cricketer or any professional sportsman. I have given myself time. Now I feel that the time has come.”Almost 18 months ago, Tamim announced his retirement at a press conference, breaking down a few times. After Tamim made the announcement, Hasina tracked him down, and requested him to come out of retirement the next day. Tamim obliged but then stepped down from ODI captaincy shortly afterwards. Tamim played two ODIs in September 2023 as the Minhajul Abedin-led national selectors were preparing him for the ODI World Cup.The selectors however didn’t pick him in the 15-man squad. Tamim then hit out at the BCB, claiming they created roadblocks for him in the lead-up to the squad announcement. Shakib Al Hasan, the captain at the time, even launched a scathing attack on Tamim following the incident, calling him “childish”.”What happened before the 2023 World Cup was a big shock for me, as I did not leave the team due to cricketing reasons,” Tamim said further in his post. “Even after that, many cricket fans told me that they want to see me back in the national team. I thought about their love.”I also have a fan at home. My son has never told me this directly but he has repeatedly told his mother that he wants to see his father play in the national jersey again. I am sorry for disappointing the fans. I have told my son, ‘The day you grow up, you will understand your father’.”

Hobart Hurricanes crumbled to their lowest BBL total, and lost Matthew Wade to a calf injury, in a shambolic six-wicket loss against Melbourne Renegades in Geelong.After being asked to bat first, Hurricanes’ innings at GMHBA Stadium lasted less than 13 overs on Thursday night as they were skittled for 74. They fell well short of their previous low benchmark – 91 against Sydney Sixers in 2015.New Zealander Tim Seifert, who pulled off a remarkable catch behind the stumps, belted an unbeaten 37 as Renegades chased down 75 in only nine overs.Captain Nathan Ellis saved Hurricanes from worse embarrassment, smashing 35 after coming to the crease at 32 for 6. Ellis then bowled superbly, taking 2 for 12 from his three overs, to clearly be Hurricanes’ best player.In a further blow for Hurricanes’ hopes of breaking through for their first title, Wade was assessed for a calf injury after pulling up sore behind the stumps. Wade, who was on the player microphone for Fox Cricket, expressed his frustration via the commentary when there was a long delay in being able to get off the field.Ben McDermott eventually replaced Wade as Hurricanes’ wicketkeeper after two overs of chaotic communication. The former Australia player didn’t return to the field for the rest of the match, sitting on the bench with a compression bandage on his calf.After conceding boundaries from his first two balls, Renegades seamer Tom Rogers struck back to take 3 for 25, including being on a hat-trick. Fellow opening bowler Fergus O’Neill also claimed wickets in consecutive deliveries. Captain Will Sutherland joined Renegades’ wicket party, finishing with career-best T20 figures of 3 for 14.It was the first BBL match in Geelong since last year’s match between Renegades and Perth Scorchers was abandoned due to an unplayable pitch.Renegades move to 1-1 after losing their opening game of the tournament on Monday night against Sixers. Hurricanes will attempt to put a disastrous start to the season behind them when they host Scorchers on Saturday.

Saurashtra have started the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season on a disappointing note. In four games so far, they have drawn and lost two each. Those results have put them seventh in their group, but their captain Jaydev Unadkat believes that his side is going “through a period of transition”. This season, Saurashtra have already had three debutants in the four matches they have played so far.”Efforts are being made to give opportunities to youngsters. As captain, I want this change to be smooth,” Unadkat told ESPNcricinfo. “We want young players to come forward, and we want them to be given maximum opportunities. I want young players to settle in our team during my captaincy.”Saurashtra’s debutants this season include pace bowlers Navneet Vora and Hiten Kanbi, and batter Parswaraj Rana. While Vora has three wickets in two games at an average of 41, Rana contributed only 21 runs across two innings against Tamil Nadu. Kanbi, though, had a promising debut against Jharkhand, as he picked up 5 for 70 in the first innings, before grabbing one more in the second.Related

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Over the last five Ranji seasons dating back to 2018-19, Saurashtra have made the final three times. Unadkat was their captain on each occasion, having even led his side to the title twice – in 2019-20 and 2022-23. Saurashtra also made the quarter-final last year, but this season, they run the risk of getting eliminated in the group stages. But Unadkat understands that a change of guard is inevitable, as seniors like Sheldon Jackson (38), Cheteshwar Pujara (36) and Arpit Vasavada (36) are near the end of their careers. Even Dharmendrasinh Jadeja is 34 while Unadkat himself is 33 years old.”It is not that players keep coming and going,” he said. “We know that when a transition period comes for a team, the performance goes up and down; but this is a part of this game.”Despite that, as captain, Unadkat remains focused on how to guide his side to a win each time he takes the field.”If you ask me what is most important for me, then I would say that I keep thinking about ways of taking Saurashtra to victory. I think about my team. When I wake up in the morning, the first thought that comes to my mind is how our team will win, and how it will become better. This is the biggest motivation for me right now.”Jaydev Unadkat had played 11 games for SRH in IPL 2024•Associated Press

‘IPL auction nothing new for me’

Unadkat is one of 1574 players to enter the mega auction for IPL 2025, which will be held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah. Last year, he played 11 games for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), which was the eighth different side he was representing since his debut in 2010. While Unadkat is hopeful to make it back to SRH for the 2025 tournament, he doesn’t mind getting a new team either.”I am definitely very excited about the auction. The auction is nothing new for me,” he said. “Mega auction is a big opportunity, but whatever the results of the auction, I am fully prepared to accept it… Hopefully, SRH will select me in their team again. But even if they don’t – or something else happens – I am ready for it.”I played for eight teams; now even if there is a ninth team – or I get a chance for any team – I don’t have any problem. If I get my bowling role and I get to play, I will be satisfied. Earlier, I was with Lucknow [Super Giants, in 2023]; before that, I was in Mumbai [Indians, in 2022]. I got [to play] very few matches there, but still I was very happy in that set-up.”

Essex completed a crushing innings-and-40 runs Vitality County Championship win over Warwickshire inside five sessions at Edgbaston.Warwickshire’s top-order was blown away by the visiting seamers on the second morning, just as it had been on the first, to set up the most commanding victory for Tom Westley’s side.After Essex took their first innings to 232, thanks to Shane Snater’s 69 (72 balls), to secure a lead of 154, Warwickshire floundered to three for four and then 38 for six against superb bowling from Jamie Porter (six for 36) and Sam Cook (three for 36). Danny Briggs (51, 48) offered some resistance but Warwickshire, who looked a beaten side from ball one, were all out for 114 to follow their 78 all out in the first innings.Essex will face Division One leaders Surrey in their final game of the next week full of confidence from successive heavy victories. Warwickshire, still looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone, must reboot – and hope seamer Chris Rushworth recovers from injury – before their last game against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.The entire match was a tale of Essex domination and Warwickshire disarray and the story was encapsulated by the day’s first 35 minutes. After the visitors resumed on 189 for nine, last-wicket pair Snater and Porter extended their partnership to 60 in 14 overs. On a pitch which brought 19 wickets on the first day, Warwickshire at times deployed nine boundary fielders for Snater while Porter, with a first class batting average of 5.82 was untroubled. Further abetted by loose bowling and misfields, the pair eased Essex’s lead upwards before Craig Miles uprooted Snater’s middle stump.It was a wretched micro-session from Warwickshire which prompted their supporters to offer a few ribald thoughts from the stands – but things then went from bad to worse as their second innings hit three for four after 34 balls.The excellent Cook trapped Rob Yates lbw and plucked out the off-stumps of Will Rhodes (for a duck in his last innings as a Warwickshire player at Edgbaston) and Hamza Shaikh. Porter had Sam Hain caught at second slip from an inside-edge on to his pad.The procession continued when Ed Barnard edged Porter to wicketkeeper Michael Pepper, who kept superbly standing up to the seamers, and captain Alex Davies, having hewn 12 runs from 71 minutes, fell lbw to Snater to make it 38 for six.Briggs and Michael Burgess added 71 in 15 overs either side of lunch, the former striking 11 fours in an attractive half-century, but after Briggs edged Porter behind the end came quickly. Porter completed his five-for when Burgess (28, 66) was caught by Paul Walter at long on and rounded off the rout with the scalp of Rushworth, caught at mid off.

Spinners Archie Vaughan and Jack Leach sparked a dramatic late Surrey collapse as Somerset boosted hopes of a first ever Vitality County Championship title with a thrilling 111-run win over the Division One leaders at Taunton.Chasing 221 to win on a turning pitch, Surrey were bowled out for 109 with less than five minutes left in the game, 18-year-old Vaughan claiming five for 38 and match figures of 11 for 140, while Leach finished with five for 37. Only Dom Sibley (56) and Ben Foakes (20) offered prolonged resistance, but their fourth-wicket stand of 49 in 29 overs looked to have secured a draw before seven wickets fell for 14 runs at the end.Somerset had extended their second innings score from an overnight 194 for fine to 224 all out, thanks to more heroics from the injured Tom Banton, last man out for 46, and Craig Overton, unbeaten on 49 after an unlikely stand of 71, which gave their side genuine hope of victory.They claimed 21 points from the game to Surrey’s five and closed the gap at the top of the table to just eight points with two matches to play.The final day began with the sight of Banton limping slowly out to bat with a runner, as he had done the previous evening. After two balls, he had to drag his damaged ankle back to the pavilion again as rain interrupted play.A resumption at 11.05am, with eight overs lost, saw Overton and Banton bring up a half-century partnership off 61 balls. The most extraordinary of Banton’s six fours came when he reverse swept Shakib Al Hasan, despite severely limited foot movement.The memorable 65-ball innings ended when Shakib found a way through Banton’s defence and bowled him, leaving Overton one short of a deserved fifty, after facing 78 balls and occupying the crease for two hours and 16 minutes.Surrey were left with a tricky 13 overs to bat before lunch, but Rory Burns and Sibley negotiated it with skill and calmness. The pattern continued after another shower had delayed the restart until 1.20pm, with three more overs lost.But as the effects of the roller began to wear off, the ball began to turn sharply and Vaughan struck a double blow in the 22nd over, having Burns caught behind for 15 and then bowling Ryan Patel for a third-ball duck. At the other end, Leach beat Ben Geddes with three successive deliveries in the 29th over.Geddes’ luck ran out in Leach’s next over when he was pinned lbw and at 46 for three, Surrey were in a deepening hole. Sibley and Foakes abandoned any attacking intent and met the nagging accuracy of Somerset’s spinners with a spell of solid defence, bringing 50 up in the 38th over.Both were quick to make for the pavilion when rain started falling again at 2.45pm with the score 63 for three. Tea was taken with Sibley unbeaten on 38.The final session began at 3.20pm with another three overs lost. Leach continued to probe and beat the outside edge, but after 44 consecutive overs of spin, teenager Vaughan took a break and was replaced by Craig Overton.Brett Randell then replaced Leach, who had sent down 14 maidens in 24 overs. After a few overs of seam, the spinners changed ends in a final Somerset throw of the dice, Leach switching to the River End.A swept single off Vaughan took Sibley to a 165-ball half-century that perfectly suited the situation. But then Foakes edged Leach to Lewis Gregory at first slip and when Sibley’s defiance ended in similar fashion in the left-armer’s next over, panic set in for the visitors.Gregory claimed a third slip catch to send back Shakib and give Vaughan his ninth wicket of the match. It became ten when Tom Curran aimed to cut the 18-year-old and got an inside edge onto his stumps.Cameron Steel fell lbw to Vaughan and Surrey were eight down with a minimum of nine overs remaining. Jordan Clark and Kemar Roach ran down the overs with an obdurate partnership before Clark was bowled by Vaughan for a 47-ball duck.Last man Dan Worrall came out to be surrounded by close fielders and lasted just two balls before Leach dismissed him leg before to spark wild celebrations among team-mates and supporters.

Surrey 164 for 5 (Sibley 67, Curran 52) beat Durham 162 for 8 (Jones 37, Worrall 2-14) by five wicketsDominic Sibley and Sam Curran shared a stand of 95 in 63 balls as Surrey romped to Vitality Blast final’s day with a five-wicket win over Durham at the Kia Oval.Former England opener Sibley plundered 67 in 48 balls (two sixes and six fours) while Curran, who made a hundred earlier in the competition, hit 52 in 34 balls, including four sixes as the hosts chased down a target of 163 with 12 balls to spare.The fact they needed so many was credit to the visitors who fought back from 69 for 6 thanks to 37 from Michael Jones, 24 in 15 from Bas De Leede and a gem of a cameo from Ben Raine (23 from 8) to post 162 for 8. Dan Worrall (2 for 14) and Reece Topley (2 for 20) wreaked havoc in the powerplay for Surrey.Thanks to Worrall and Topley, Surrey dominated early on. Durham’s leading scorer in the competition, Graham Clark, spooned the fifth ball from Worrall to Jordan at extra cover and Ollie Robinson chewed up 11 balls swinging and missing before being bowled by Topley.Worrall cleaned up Alex Lees with a brute of a yorker and although Brydon Carse struck his first ball over the ropes, he left soon afterwards edging Topley to wicketkeeper Burns.Colin Ackerman was run out by a brilliant direct hit from Sam Curran and when Ashton Turner’s brief counterattack (26 from 21) was ended by Sibley’s catch at deep square Durham were 69 for 6 in the 13th over.Scottish international Jones hit back, clubbing Jordan over extra for six. De Leede, who survived a bungled run-out attempt by Burns, followed suit as the pair raised a 50-stand in 30 balls before Sam Curran bowled De Leede off his pads.Jones though kept swinging and Raine (23 from 8), twice cleared the ropes in the final over bowled by Jordan to take the visitors to 162.Buoyed by taking 92 from the last seven, Durham began well in the field, Carse striking twice in five balls to remove first the dangerous Will Jacks and then Laurie Evans caught at slip.Two men who not so long ago were opening for England, Rory Burns and Sibley were trusted with steadying the ship and the latter defied his reputation as something of a plodder with four boundaries in the powerplay.The introduction of spin for the first time on the night in the shape of Callum Parkinson was the undoing of Burns, who hoisted him to safe hands in the deep.Sam Curran joined Sibley as the run-rate rose, 30 balls ticking by without a boundary before the former broke the shackles with a huge six off Nathan Sowter. Parkinson was similarly dispatched.De Leede spurned the chance to take the England all-rounder’s scalp when he dropped a tough caught and bowled with Curran on 31 and with that the hosts assumed complete command.Sibley went to 50 with a glorious six over mid-on before Curran struck a delivery from Sowter almost clean out of The Oval.Only 15 were needed when Sibley fell and though Curran too left before the end, Surrey got home comfortably.

BBL officials remain hopeful that Australia’s Test players will be able to feature in the latter stages of the regular season in January although availability will come down to workloads after the five-Test series against India.With Australia due to tour Sri Lanka for two Tests from late January, players involved in that squad won’t be available for the BBL finals which run from January 21-27. The India series finishes on January 7 in Sydney with a window of approximately the final ten days of the BBL home-and-away stage where Tests stars could feature, but it appears unlikely that will include the fast bowlers.Related

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• All the BBL and WBBL squads for 2024-25 season

• Sydney Thunder confident of Warner BBL return

• Melbourne Stars get first pick in BBL overseas draft

The BBL fixtures were confirmed on Friday with the season starting on December 15 – the second day of the Brisbane Test – and the final played on January 27 which is a public holiday the day after Australia Day.”We’ve seen the last couple of seasons the impact those local heroes have when they come back into the BBL,” Alistair Dobson, the head of the BBL, told ESPNcricinfo. “We’ve given ourselves a really good opportunity this year from a scheduling perspective with the window post the SCG Test before our team head off to Sri Lanka for players to play a number of games.”We’ve given ourselves every shot. That said a five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series is probably the toughest Test series our players will play in and that’s where their focus is. We’ll work with them as that series goes through to understand what they can do and whether they can play some BBL games. We know they want to and we are optimistic we’ll see a number of them back again.”Last season, some of Australia’s Test players made a brief appearance between the Pakistan and West Indies series.The BBL brought in a new mechanism which allows clubs to sign Australia contracted players outside of their 18-player squad with the ability to bring them in if they became available. Pat Cummins (Sydney Thunder) and Mitchell Starc (Sydney Sixers) took up this option but did not play for their clubs. It has been a decade since Starc last played BBL in 2014, while Cummins last featured in 2019.Last season Steven Smith played twice for Sydney Sixers, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne twice for Brisbane Heat and Alex Carey once for Adelaide Strikers. Travis Head had been set to play for Strikers but was rested by Cricket Australia while Nathan Lyon did not feature for his new team Melbourne Renegades.The overseas player draft is expected to take place in early September with clubs now able to sign player before the draft on a multi-year deal.Perth Scorchers will play on opening night•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

Scorchers to launch season

Perth Scorchers will host the opening match of the 2024-25 season when they face Melbourne Stars at Optus Stadium. Once the BBL starts there will only be two nights during the regular season – Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – when matches won’t be played. With the Perth Test followed by the day/night game in Adelaide, which are broadcast into the primetime east coast market, being the first two in the series against India, it means the BBL then gets a clear run for the evening timeslot once it begins.Strikers will host their traditional fixture at Adelaide Oval on New Year’s Eve (against Scorchers) while Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Stars are the New Year’s Day fixtures. Defending champions Heat begin their campaign with an away fixture against Stars on December 18.A Boxing Day double header will follow the opening day of the MCG Test with Sixers playing Stars followed by Scorchers against Heat and there will be another double header after the first day of the SCG Test on January 3.

Geelong gets another chance

One of the major controversies last season was the abandoned game in Geelong between Renegades and Scorchers when a damp pitch was deemed to be dangerous. But there has been a show of faith for GMHBA Stadium which will host Renegades’ first home game against Hurricanes on December 19. Renegades other four home fixtures will be at Marvel Stadium.

BBL fixtures 2024-25

December 15:Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Stars, Optus Stadium (4.15pm)
December 16:Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Renegades, SCG (7.15pm)
December 17: Sydney Thunder vs Adelaide Strikers, Manuka Oval (7.15pm)
December 18: Melbourne Stars vs Brisbane Heat, MCG (7.15pm)
December 19: Melbourne Renegades vs Hobart Hurricanes, GMHBA Stadium (7.15pm)
December 20: Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Stars, Adelaide Oval (6.45pm)
December 21: Hobart Hurricanes vs Perth Scorchers, Blundstone Arena (4.00pm)
December 21: Sydney Thunder vs Sydney Sixers, ENGIE Stadium (7.15pm)
December 22: Brisbane Heat vs Adelaide Strikers, Gabba (6.15pm)
December 23: Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers, Marvel Stadium (7.15pm)
December 26: Sydney Sixers vs Melbourne Stars, SCG (6.05pm)
December 26: Perth Scorchers vs Brisbane Heat, Optus Stadium (6.15pm)
December 27: Adelaide Strikers vs Hobart Hurricanes, Adelaide Oval (6.45pm)
December 28: Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder, Manuka Oval (7.15pm)
December 29: Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers, Gabba (6.15pm)
December 30: Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Renegades, ENGIE Stadium (7.15pm)
December 31: Adelaide Strikers vs Perth Scorchers, Adelaide Oval (6.45pm)
January 1: Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Sixers, Blundstone Arena (4.00pm)
January 1: Brisbane Heat vs Melbourne Stars, Gabba (6.15pm)
January 2: Melbourne Renegades vs Adelaide Strikers, Marvel Stadium (7.15pm)
January 3: Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat, Coffs Harbour (6.05pm)
January 3: Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Thunder ,Optus Stadium (6.15pm)
January 4: Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades, MCG (7.15pm)
January 5: Hobart Hurricanes vs Adelaide Strikers, Blundstone Arena (7.15pm)
January 6: Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder, Gabba(6.15pm)
January 7: Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Renegades, Optus Stadium (4.15pm)
January 8: Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes, ENGIE Stadium (7.15pm)
January 9: Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Sixers, MCG (7.15pm)
January 10: Hobart Hurricanes vs Sydney Thunder, Blundstone Arena (7.15pm)
January 11: Sydney Sixers vs Perth Scorchers, SCG (4.45pm)
January 11: Adelaide Strikers vs Brisbane Heat, Adelaide Oval (7.30pm)
January 12: Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars, Marvel Stadium (7.15pm)
January 13: Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers, ENGIE Stadium (7.30pm)
January 14: Hobart Hurricanes vs Melbourne Renegades, Blundstone Arena(7.30pm)
January 15: Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Sixers, Adelaide Oval (7.00pm)
January 16: Brisbane Heat vs Hobart Hurricanes, Gabba (6.30pm)
January 17: Sydney Sixers vs Sydney Thunder, SCG (7.15pm)
January 18: Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat, Marvel Stadium (5.00pm)
January 18: Perth Scorchers vs Adelaide Strikers, Optus Stadium (5.15pm)
January 19: Melbourne Stars vs Hobart Hurricanes, MCG (7.15pm)
January 21: The Qualifier (1 vs 2)
January 22: The Knockout (3 vs 4)
January 24: The Challenger (loser of Qualifier vs winner of Knockout)
January 27: The Final (Reserve Day, January 28)

Match details

Netherlands vs Sri Lanka
Gros Islet, 8.30pm local

Big picture

Well, where do you go from here? For Sri Lanka, safe to say, this is nowhere near where they would have wanted to be, as yet another major ICC tournament goes by with them toiling with little more than pride to play for.This turn of events might rankle even more considering that coming into this tournament there had been a quiet confidence in the Sri Lankan camp, particularly of positive results against one or both of South Africa and Bangladesh – certainly the latter whom they recently beat in T20Is – as well a deep run in the tournament. But things didn’t quite work out that way, and following a washout against Nepal, they are now faced with the very real prospect/ignominy of ending at the bottom of their group with not even a win to their name.It’s also their final ICC tournament until their home T20 World Cup in 2026 – there’s a Champions Trophy next year but they missed out on qualification – so regardless of the result, there will no doubt be an inquisition back home into the state of white-ball cricket.Related

• Mathews on Sri Lanka's exit: 'We've let the entire nation down'

• Bangladesh favourites to make Super Eight, but Nepal could ask difficult questions

As for the Netherlands, there is still a chance to qualify for Super Eight, but it requires a dominant win against Sri Lanka, as well as Nepal beating Bangladesh.If this scenario had been posited a couple of years ago, it’s safe to say Bangladesh would have been pretty relaxed, but such has been the upward trajectory of the Associate members, especially at this tournament, such upsets are not nearly as surprising as they once might have been.Nepal’s agonising defeat to South Africa allied with Sri Lanka’s dismal showing so far in this tournament has lent itself further to these unlikely scenarios, but there’s more to it. While Sri Lanka have Test tours of England and South Africa scheduled for the year following this campaign, the failure to qualify for the Dutch means their cricket for the foreseeable future is done, so they’re certainly not in want of added motivation. With them playing after Bangladesh and Nepal, they will go in knowing exactly what’s needed of them.In terms of head-to-head records, Sri Lanka have never lost to Netherlands, but the more recent encounters haven’t been as one-sided as the scorecards might suggest.

Form guide

Netherlands LLWLL (Last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Sri Lanka LLWLW

In the spotlight – Aryan Dutt and Angelo Mathews

Aryan Dutt had impressed with a three-wicket haul in the last encounter between these two sides – at last year’s ODI World Cup. While he was overlooked in the more seamer-friendly conditions of Dallas and New York, he found his way back into the side against Bangladesh in Kingstown. With spin set to play a key role in Gros Islet, Dutt’s control and variation could prove pivotal in the powerplay to expose Sri Lanka’s soft middle order.Angelo Mathews’ last T20I at Gros Islet was all the way back in 2010•ICC/Getty Images

When Angelo Mathews last played at Gros Islet, his career was in its infancy. Then too it was during a T20 World Cup, but Sri Lanka Cricket – at least on the field – was in a better place. Now 14 years later, he is back as an ageing stalwart with his team having been eliminated at the first hurdle. He has also struggled to keep up with the more aggressive approach T20 cricket demands – his career strike rate stalling at 119.48, well below the standard bearers of the format. With Sri Lanka’s power-hitters currently restricted to their top three and an out-of-form Dasun Shanaka, they need Mathews to show he’s capable of adapting to the times.

Team news – spin to win?

Spin-bowling allrounder Saqib Zulfiqar could come into the XI should the Netherlands opt for an extra spinner.Netherlands (probable XI): 1 Michael Levitt, 2 Max O’Dowd, 3 Vikramjit Singh, 4 Sybrand Engelbrecht, 5 Scott Edwards (capt, wk), 6 Bas de Leede, 7 Logan van Beek, 8 Tim Pringle/Saqib Zulfiqar, 9 Aryan Dutt, 10 Paul van Meekeren, 11 Vivian KingmaIf Sri Lanka want an extra spinner, they could hand allrounder Dunith Wellalage a T20I debut.Sri Lanka (probable XI): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Kamindu Mendis, 4 Dhananjaya de Silva, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga (capt), 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Matheesha Pathirana, 11 Nuwan Thushara

Pitch and conditions

There were runs aplenty in the Australia-Scotland game, which will be encouraging for both sets of batters but Australia’s deployment of three spinners might provide some indication as to the most effective tactic on this Gros Islet pitch. As for the weather, there is a possibility of rain later in the night.

Stats that matter

• Sri Lanka have a 9-0 win-loss record against the Netherlands in limited-overs cricket.
• Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka are the only Sri Lankan batters to average above 25 and have a strike rate of above 130 in T20Is since January 2023.
• The average first-innings score at Gros Islet is 161.

Quotes

“They gave us great support, no matter where we play. Whether it was in Sri Lanka or even here, there were a lot supporting us. And I feel very sorry as we couldn’t do anything for them. I want to apologise for that.”
“For our guys, it’s an awesome opportunity to play cricket in different parts of the world. It’s something we thrive off. We love playing in different conditions in different parts of the world. Obviously, it’s short breaks between games but that’s just part of how these World Cups go and our guys love that.”