Team Captain Phil Mickelson of Hy Flyers GC watches a shot on the practice range during day one of the LIV Golf Invitational - Bedminster at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on July 29, 2022 in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Jonathan Ferrel | LIV Golf | Getty Images
The PGA Tour confirmed Friday that it won't allow players affiliated with the rival LIV Golf league to renew their memberships for the 2022-23 year.
The decision, reported earlier in the day by Sports Illustrated, means the LIV players will not be allowed to compete in PGA Tour events in the 2022-2023 season. The move comes after players who had jumped to the the Saudi-backed LIV league were indefinitely suspended from the PGA Tour in June.
On Friday, a spokesperson from the PGA told CNBC that the players are ineligible for renewal because their contracts with LIV prevent them from upholding the membership requirements.
Jason Roy is expected to be the high-profile omission from England's T20I squad for next month's tour of Pakistan, and thereafter the T20 World Cup in Australia in October, after failing to emerge from a season-long form slump.
Roy, 32, was an integral influence within the white-ball dressing-room under Eoin Morgan's leadership, and a mainstay of the side from the moment of his debut in the wake of the 2015 World Cup. His uncompromising aggression at the top of the order has yielded nearly 5,500 white-ball runs in 171 appearances, including 1,522 at 24.15 and a strike rate of 137.61 in T20Is, and has been crucial in dictating the team's proactive approach - one that ultimately delivered glory at the 2019 50-over World Cup.
However, Roy has struggled for form this summer, with just 78 runs at 12.66 in six T20Is, and at a subdued strike rate of 77.55. A century in the third ODI against Netherlands in Amstelveen in June boosted his ODI numbers, but he failed to reach fifty in five further appearances against India and South Africa.
England's T20I squads are due to be announced on Friday. Jos Buttler - Morgan's successor - is still recuperating from the calf injury he sustained during Manchester Originals' Hundred captain, and will only come into contention for the second half of the tour, with Moeen Ali likely to deputise at the start of the series. Roy, however, is understood to have informed his Oval Invincibles team-mates that he has missed out on selection.
Given the huge regard with which Roy is held in England's white-ball set-up, he could have rescued his place in the team with a strong showing for Invincibles in this year's Hundred. However, he began his campaign disastrously with three ducks in four innings, while his haul of 51 runs at 8.50 culminated in a tortuous 21 from 19 balls against Birmingham Phoenix.
He missed Invincibles' last two matches of the competition after suffering stiffness in his lower back, including Wednesday night's decisive loss to Originals at Old Trafford, and finds his place in the England squad for the Pakistan tour taken by his domestic opening partner, Will Jacks, whose impressive run of form included a century against Southern Brave. Another of Roy's Invincibles team-mates, Jordan Cox - a star of Kent's T20 Blast victory last summer - is also understood to be under consideration as a potential bolter for that trip.
Will Smeed, who scored the Hundred's first century - also against Brave - is another name in the frame but it is Phil Salt who seems most likely to get first crack at replacing him, initially in Pakistan and then in Australia.
Among the current incumbents, Dawid Malan's stellar returns at the top of the order for Trent Rockets - a tournament-high 358 runs at 59.66 and a strike-rate of 172.11 - are likely to earn him a promotion to open at some stage of the Pakistan tour after his prolonged run at No. 3 in England's T20I side.
Alex Hales, Malan's opening partner at Rockets, and a player who has been blackballed by England ever since he failed two recreational drugs tests on the eve of the 2019 World Cup, has also been mentioned for a recall. After several years of impressive displays on the global T20 circuit, Hales this summer became the first English player to pass 10,000 runs in the format.
However, even with Morgan - his most ardent critic - now retired, a rapprochement under the new regime of Buttler and Matthew Mott seems an outside bet. It is understood no discussions have taken place between Hales and the England set-up, and there is little appetite for Hales to be recalled among senior players in the group.
Another likely absentee from the Pakistan squad will be England's Test captain, Ben Stokes, who retired from ODI cricket this summer in a bid to focus on the other two international formats. His immediate priority, however, is the forthcoming Test series decider against South Africa at the Kia Oval next week, which concludes just days before the team is due to depart for their seven-match tour of Pakistan.
On the bowling front, the uncapped left-arm quick Luke Wood is likely to make his England debut in Pakistan, having been an unused squad member in the Netherlands earlier this year. He has bowled with pace and penetration throughout Rockets' run to the Hundred final, with nine wickets at 24.33, and is likely to be among an abundance of seam options in an enlarged, 19-man squad.
Mark Wood, who has missed the whole English summer through injury, is also in line for his comeback and will train with the Test squad at the Kia Oval this week as part of his preparation. A 19-man squad to tour Pakistan will be named on Friday morning, along with a 15-man squad (plus three reserves) for the T20 World Cup and the three Australia T20Is which precede it. Among those reserves will be Tymal Mills, who featured in the last T20 World Cup in the UAE but has been out of action since undergoing toe surgery earlier this month.
Jess Kerr had withdrawn from the competition in Birmingham because of a foot injury while Down had taken time off to prioritise her well-being.
"We've seen the success Jess has enjoyed on the international stage in her career to date and it's been encouraging to see her working her way back from injury, and training with the London Spirit over here in the Hundred in recent weeks," Ben Sawyer, New Zealand head coach, said. "It's great to see Lauren return after taking some personal time away from the game. She was flying with the bat heading into the ODI World Cup in New Zealand earlier this year only to be ruled out of the tournament with that thumb injury. So we're looking forward to welcoming her back into the environment."
Penfold had made her international debut last year against England and was part of New Zealand's reserves for the World Cup earlier this year. "I first saw Molly bowling when I was working with Australia at the ODI World Cup and remember telling them how good I thought she was, just from watching her practice," Sawyer, who was Australia's fast bowling coach at the World Cup, said. "You could see she had all the natural attributes for fast bowling and I've been sent a few videos of her recent progress - she seems to be going really well."
"Hayley Jensen is already over in the Caribbean playing in the CPL and she said the conditions are extremely hot and the wickets are keeping a little low - so that's what we can expect," Sawyer said.
While Devine, Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Lea Tahuhu and Maddy Green were involved in the Hundred, and Jensen is in the West Indies already, the other players had a camp in Lincoln, with assistant coach Sara McGlashan overlooking the preparations. Having done well at the Commonwealth Games by beating England to win the bronze medal, New Zealand's next big goal is the T20 World Cup in South Africa early next year.
"I know the team took a lot of confidence from winning that bronze-medal match against England," Sawyer said. "To do it in front of a packed house at Edgbaston and to do it so convincingly will have given the whole unit so much belief.
"This tour will be important for us to continue building on the good work done in England. We'll of course be out to win both series in the Caribbean - but will also be looking to offer opportunities to different players as we try and nail down our combinations for the T20 World Cup and refine our game-plans.
"We'll also be giving the one-day series plenty of attention, having identified that as the format most in need of improvement."
New Zealand and West Indies play three ODIs - part of the ICC Women's Championship - followed by five T20Is. All the games will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua. This is the first time New Zealand are touring the Caribbean since 2014, when the hosts won the ODIs 4-0 while New Zealand won the T20Is 2-1.
Squad: Sophie Devine (capt), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Lauren Down, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu
Kane Brown is fresh off making history as the first male country singer to perform at the VMA's and just announced the U.S. leg of his "Drunk or Dreaming Tour."
Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett and LoCash will be joining Kane Brown's tour.
(Mat Hayward/Getty Images)
Kane Brown's 2023 Tour Dates:
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Thursday, March 16, Grand Rapids, MI, Van Andel Arena
Friday, March 17, Evansville, IN, Ford Center
Saturday, March 18, Greenville, SC, Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Thursday, March 23, Columbus, OH, Nationwide Arena
Friday, March 24, Lexington, KY, Rupp Arena
Saturday, March 25, Huntington, WV, Mountain Health Arena
Thursday, March 30, Knoxville, TN, Thompson-Boling Arena
Friday, March 31, Nashville, TN, Bridgestone Arena
Saturday, April 1, North Little Rock, AR, Simmons Bank Arena
Thursday, April 13, Wichita, KS, INTRUST Bank Arena
Friday, April 14, St. Louis, MO, Enterprise Center
Saturday, April 15, Omaha, NE, CHI Health Center
Thursday, April 20, Sioux Falls, SD, Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
Friday, April 21, Rapid City, SD, The Monument
Sunday, April 23, Nampa, ID, Ford Idaho Center Arena
Thursday, April 27, San Jose, CA, SAP Center at San Jose
Saturday, May 6, 2023, Bossier City, LA, Brookshire Grocery Arena
Friday, May 12, Tulsa, OK, BOK Center
Thursday, May 18, Spokane, WA, Spokane Arena
Saturday, May 19, Missoula, MT, Adams Center
Saturday, May 20, Billings, MT, First Interstate Arena at MetraPark
Friday, June 2, St. Augustine, FL, The St. Augustine Amphitheatre
Saturday, June 3, St. Augustine, FL, The St. Augustine Amphitheatre
Saturday, June 10, Greenwood Village, CO, Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
The "Late Night Talking" singer, who is currently doing a run of concerts at New York's Madison Square Garden, has added an additional 18 dates to his global "Love On Tour" show.
The new dates include stops in São Paulo, Austin and Chicago, with more performances in Asia slated to be announced.
Styles released his most recent album, "Harry's House," in May. His single "As It Was" off the album reached No.1 on Billboard Hot 100 chart and stayed there for 10 weeks.
Styles is nominated for eight MTV VMA's on Sunday, including artist of the year, but will be performing at his own concert in New York City during the award ceremony.
Marnus Labuschagne is a self-confessed tinkerer when it comes to his batting, sometimes changing things mid-innings, and he is focused on using the upcoming six ODIs against Zimbabwe and New Zealand in northern Australia to continue to adapt his middle-order game with little more than a year to go until the World Cup.
Labuschagne now has 21 ODIs under his belt since making his debut shortly before Covid disrupted the game - the opening ODI against Zimbabwe in Townsville on August 28 will be Australia's first on home soil since November 2020. He scored a century in his fifth innings, an emotional performance against South Africa in the country of his birth, and has also made a couple of sparkling half-centuries either side of Australia's 13-month absence from the format.
However, he was left frustrated by his returns on the recent tour of Sri Lanka, even knowing there were some tough conditions as the series progressed, having fallen between 18 and 31 in all five innings.
"Looking back on it, I certainly wish I'd played a slightly different way," he told ESPNcricinfo. "I almost started a little too defensively so I'm just reviewing my theories there and wished I'd applied my Test method a little bit more in those conditions; sweeping the ball, using my feet a little more. It was a bit disappointing from my end, that I didn't really do that until the Test series came. For me, it's a learning experience."
Part of that learning is to adjust to what could be the No. 5 position on a more regular basis. He twice batted there in Sri Lanka, with Josh Inglis and Travis Head in the slot above, and though neither of those players is part of the current squad, Mitchell Marsh and Steven Smith could both go in ahead of Labuschagne.
"I enjoy the different challenges, that's for sure," he said. "I always like batting in the top order, I've spent my whole life there, but understanding the team make-up, batting at No. 5, I need to continue to get better at that role and through the middle overs understanding when to attack and defend. It's about really trusting myself. That's the great thing with the coaching staff, they have full trust in us as players, to take the game on and put pressure back on the opposition.
"To be really positive out of the blocks is key for me. Understanding what the situation is. If we are going well it's about making sure that I'm getting the other batter on strike if he's really got momentum and starting to build the partnership. Putting the bowler under pressure from ball one and if I can do that it certainly changes the dynamic."
There has been some discussion about whether there is room for both Labuschagne and Smith in the ODI middle order with them having career strike rates of 85.80 and 88.43 respectively, but unsurprisingly, Labuschagne is not having a bar of that. Back in November 2020, the pair produced a stand of 136 in 16 overs against India at the SCG which gave a glimpse of how they could work together.
"I don't really see us as similar players, I think we attack the game very differently," Labuschagne said. "[Steve] goes a lot more straight down the wicket, especially against spin, whereas I attack it quite square with sweeps. Obviously, I think there's room for both of us. Steve got 100 off 60 balls against India in back-to-back games and feel like we complement each other depending on what the situation is. If it's a tough wicket, we can control the middle overs, but on the other side, we can put pressure on the opposition at a lower risk and be able to score quickly. The challenge is we've just got to continue to push that run rate, especially when we are batting first, and we both understand that."
On the broader theme of the ODI format's standing in the game at a time of unprecedented schedule crunch, Labuschagne is equally enthusiastic and hopes to add another chapter to Australia's World Cup legacy next year in India.
"I love 50-over cricket, it's a good mix, you need to show some really good tactical nous, understanding your opposition, getting wickets through the middle overs and trying to score at seven or eight runs an over at low risk, that's a different challenge in itself. I really enjoy the format, there's space for all three, it's just about how we schedule it.
"The history that comes with one-day cricket makes it such an amazing format. There's been so many great World Cup wins over so many years, so to be a part of a World Cup would be an amazing experience and one that I look forward to. Still think it's the pinnacle of international white-ball events."
The BCCI is set to resume the India A programme in early September, with incoming tours from New Zealand, and possibly, Australia. It will be helmed by VVS Laxman and his NCA support staff group of Sairaj Bahutule and Sitanshu Kotak.
ESPNcricinfo has learnt that New Zealand A will arrive in India by the end of August for three four-day games and as many List A matches, with all of them likely to be held in Bengaluru. The BCCI is also contemplating the possibility of a pink-ball fixture during the series, but a final nod is awaited.
New Zealand A played a pink-ball game on their previous tour to India in 2017-18. That game in Vijayawada, though, was a day fixture despite being played with the pink ball. And if the game in the upcoming series next month does go ahead, it will be played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The New Zealand A tour is expected to overlap with the Duleep Trophy, the zonal first-class competition, which will open India's domestic calendar for the 2022-23 season. The six-team tournament will be played from September 8 to 25 in Chennai and Coimbatore.
The home series against New Zealand will be India A's first assignment since their tour to South Africa late last year, just prior to the national team's three-Test series in December.
The BCCI is also understood to be in negotiations with Cricket Australia for a tour towards the end of the year - most likely in November - prior to the start of the Ranji Trophy and India's next Test assignment, which will be in Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh tour, consisting of two Tests, will be India's penultimate World Test Championship (WTC) assignment. They will culminate the current leg of the WTC with a four-Test series at home against Australia in February-March.
China slams US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to island state as threat to peace in Taiwan Strait, responding with flurry of military exercises and announcing suspension of several agricultural imports from Taiwan.
China has expressed fury at visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, painting it as a provocation that threatens fragile cross-strait status quo.
(Reuters)
Chinese military drills encircling Taiwan are threatening the island's key ports and urban areas, Taipei's Defence Ministry has said, as China furious over US officials' visit to the island state bans sand export to Taiwan and suspends some imports as well.
"The Defence Ministry has closely monitored and strengthened preparations, and will respond appropriately in due time," Taiwan's defence department said on Wednesday.
"The military will definitely stick to its posts and protect national security. We ask the public to rest assured and support the military."
The drill is "an attempt to threaten our important ports and urban areas, and unilaterally undermine regional peace and stability," it added.
"This move will not help China's international image," Taiwan said, vowing to "strengthen" defences and offer a resolute response as cross-strait tensions soar.
The Island's authorities pilloried Beijing's military posture just hours after China flew 21 military planes into Taiwan's air defence zone.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said the island would "not back down" as a furious China geared up for military drills in retaliation for the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"Facing deliberately heightened military threats, Taiwan will not back down. We will... continue to hold the line of defence for democracy," Tsai said at an event with Pelosi in Taipei.
China's leaders have expressed fury at the visit of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, painting it as a provocation that threatens the fragile cross-strait status quo.
In response, China has announced a series of live-fire military exercises around Taiwan, with the Eastern Theatre Command saying that "joint naval and air exercises will be conducted in the northern, southwestern, and southeastern sea and airspaces" of the island.
The drills will include "long-range live ammunition shooting" in the Taiwan Strait, which separates the island from mainland China.
At some points, the zone of Chinese operations will come within 20 kilometres of Taiwan's shoreline, according to coordinates shared by the People's Liberation Army.
Beijing considers Taiwan as its province and has vowed to one day seize it, by force if necessary.
With the risk of conflict or miscalculation rising, officials from outgunned Taiwan have tried to appear resolute to preserve public calm.
Taiwan's cabinet said the military has increased its alertness level and authorities will make plans to ensure safety and stability around the island.
It said its citizens should feel reassured and that a national stabilisation fund for the stock market will closely watch the situation and react in a timely manner.
Meanwhile, Beijing's Commerce Ministry also announced retaliatory economic measures, saying it would suspend the export to Taiwan of natural sand –– a key component in the manufacturing of semiconductors, one of the island's main exports.
China said it is suspending imports of citrus fruits, chilled white striped hairtail and frozen horse mackerel from Taiwan.
Beijing said it will take disciplinary actions against two Taiwan foundations, banning them from financially cooperating with mainland companies and individuals, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson of China's Taiwan Affairs Office said.
The two foundations are Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund, Ma said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Pelosi thanked Taiwan's president for her leadership and called for increased inter-parliamentary cooperation.
"We commend Taiwan for being one of the freest societies in the world," Pelosi told Taiwan's parliament.
She also said new US legislation aimed at strengthening the American chip industry to compete with China "offers greater opportunity for US-Taiwan economic cooperation."
Beijing considers Taiwan a breakaway province, but the latter has maintained its self-rule since 1949 and enjoys diplomatic ties with at least 14 countries.
Interactions between Washington and Taipei have grown significantly since the tenure of former US president Donald Trump, with former and sitting lawmakers making trips to the island home to more than 25 million people.
The US formally recognised China in 1979 and shifted diplomatic relations from Taipei to Beijing, and accepted Taiwan as part of the mainland under Washington's One China policy.
England's first tour of Pakistan in 17 years will begin on September 20, as the men's team play seven T20Is in Karachi (the first four) and Lahore (the last three). The last game is on October 2 before England travel to Australia for the men's T20 World Cup. They are scheduled to return to Pakistan for a series of three Tests in December - their first Tests in Pakistan since the 2005-06 tour.
In what the PCB called Pakistan's "bumper international season", they will also host New Zealand in two spells, first for two Tests and three ODIs in December-January, and then for five ODIs and five T20Is in April next year. West Indies will also tour Pakistan for three T20Is in late January. In a statement, the PCB said that the itineraries for England's Test series as well as the matches against New Zealand and West Indies would be released "in due course".
The series will be the second of seven T20Is or more, with the encounters between the Malawi and Mozambique men's teams in 2019 the only previous instance of such a long bilateral series.
Next year, Pakistan are also scheduled to host the Asia Cup for the first time since 2008. Pakistan were originally due to host the T20 Asia Cup this year, but swapped with Sri Lanka - the 2022 Asia Cup starts at the end of August and has moved to the UAE. But the 50-over version is due to now take place in Pakistan next year - most likely in the run-up to the 50-over World Cup, which takes place in India in October-November. This year's Asia Cup moved to the UAE (though SLC remains the host), following concerns about the SLC's ability to host a multi-nation tournament of this stature in the midst of the country's economic and political crisis.
As reported by ESPNcricinfo in early July, Karachi's National Stadium will host T20Is against England on September 20, 22, 23 and 25, before the action shifts to Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium for the matches on September 28 and 30, and October 2. All the matches are floodlit affairs, starting at 7.30pm Pakistan time.
"We are absolutely delighted to confirm hosting England for seven T20Is in Karachi and Lahore as a curtain-raiser to a busy, entertaining and exciting season of home internationals," Zakir Khan, PCB director of international cricket, said in a statement. "England is one of the top-ranked T20I teams and them playing the shortest format in the lead up to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Pakistan will not only help the team management to finalise their preparations, but will also set the tone for December's three-Test series."
A three-member ECB security-assessment team visited Pakistan to take stock of the arrangements in late July. The team went back satisfied enough to green-light England's first tour of Pakistan in 17 years.
"We demonstrated our event planning and operational skills in the highly-successful series against Australia in March-April and I am confident we will be able to replicate these when England visit us for the first time since 2005," Zakir said. "We have been able to confirm schedule of the T20Is following a successful tour by the England and Wales Cricket Board recce team, which was pleased and satisfied with all our arrangements."
"We have been liaising closely with the PCB over arrangements for this visit and the Tests later in the year, and will continue to work closely with the PCB, British High Commission and other relevant authorities as we continue to prepare for these tours"
Rob Key
England have not toured Pakistan since 2005, and two of home Pakistan's home series against them, in 2012 and 2016, were played in the UAE. England also chose to withdraw their men's and women's teams' tours to Pakistan last year citing "bubble fatigue" and increasing concerns about travelling to the region". This came soon after New Zealand had withdrawn their men's team, citing similar concerns.
"We are looking forward to returning to Pakistan and playing these seven T20Is as the team builds up to the ICC Men's T20 World Cup," Rob Key, the ECB's managing director of men's cricket, said. "We have been liaising closely with the PCB over arrangements for this visit and the Tests later in the year, and will continue to work closely with the PCB, British High Commission and other relevant authorities as we continue to prepare for these tours.
"We would like to thank the PCB and the city authorities for all their ongoing assistance with planning for the tours, including hosting the recent pre-tour planning visit by ECB representatives and the PCA CEO."
Nurul Hasan, Bangladesh's new T20I captain, was ruled out of the remainder of the Zimbabwe tour following a finger injury during his side's seven-wicket win in the second T20I in Harare on Sunday. Nurul fractured his left index finger while keeping against fast bowler Hasan Mahmud, according to team physio team Muzadded Alpha Sany.
Sri Lanka would have felt they were on track for victory at the end of day three of the first Test, until Abdullah Shafique and Co swept the win from under them in the last two days. But even Sri Lanka reflected that theirs was a far-from-complete performance. If you bat first in Galle, you have to score "350 to 400 runs" to control the game, Dhananjaya de Silva had said after the match. They had made 222.
Then, in the second innings, only Prabath Jayasuriya seemed a wicket-taking threat for the majority of Pakistan's 127.2 overs at the crease, and Sri Lanka lost a match that seemed in the bag.
It wasn't quite a perfect Test for Pakistan either, but in Shafique, they now have a Test batter that right now is putting up bigger numbers than even Babar Azam. Their weakness, like Sri Lanka's, is the bowling attack, which is a strange thing to say about a Pakistan side.
Their seamers are excellent on pitches that offer them something, but in Galle, no significant reverse swing has been seen for three Tests running. Aside from Mohammad Nawaz, their spinners weren't especially consistent in the second innings either.
As always, with these teams, there is the problem of them not playing remotely as expected from one match to another. On the surface, it seems as if Pakistan should ride on the momentum of a monumental chase, and put substantial pressure on the hosts.
But series between these teams frequently surprise. Maybe, in this one - and this would be the biggest surprise of all, given the way the first Test went - both teams will take all their chances.
(Last five matches, most recent first)
Sri Lanka LWLWD Pakistan WLDDW
Angelo Mathews will be playing his 100th Test. It has been quite a career. He has batted all day to save a Test away from home. He has hit plenty of big innings in the company of the tail, most memorably his 160 at Headingley that helped turn a dire situation into a victory. He has also had a public fight with a coach, and plenty of minor humiliations, and has spent months away from the side owing to leg injuries, but has also been part of some of Sri Lanka's greatest Test victories.
He only gets picked for Tests now, which means this might be his last international until March next year. A big contribution would be the perfect way to celebrate the occasion.
Abdullah Shafique, just 22 years old, has an average of 80, and a great fourth-innings knock to his name. There are plenty of batters who have 12-year Test careers without an innings as impressive as the 160 not out he just played in Galle. Shafique did it in his 11th innings. What was most impressive about the knock was that it wasn't a gamble.
He backed his defence, saw out 408 balls, even if he was occasionally - but not outrageously - fortunate to survive. And in partnerships with batters who have played a lot more cricket than him, Shafique seemed like the more accomplished player.
It is Galle, so it will turn. And it is July, so at some point, the weather will impose itself. It has been nine years since there has been a draw at this venue, so a result is always likely.
Sri Lanka have got Pathum Nissanka back in the squad, but because Oshada Fernando has scored runs, he might retain his position. Meanwhile, the injured Maheesh Theekshana has been ruled out. So Dunith Wellalage, the left-arm spin-bowling allrounder, is likeliest to make a debut.
Pakistan may bring in left-arm spinner Nauman Ali for Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is out with a knee injury. At times in the first Test, they seemed to have too many quicks, given the state of the pitch. Afridi had taken four wickets in the first innings of that match, but Pakistan may be going in with a better combination this time.
Pakistan (possible): 1 Abdullah Shafique, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Babar Azam (capt), 5 Mohammad Rizwan (wk), 6 Agha Salman, 7 Mohammad Nawaz, 8 Nauman Ali, 9 Hasan Ali, 10 Yasir Shah, 11 Naseem Shah
Tom Bruce and Robbie O'Donnell have been named co-captains for the tour that consists of three first-class games and as many one-day matches
