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Danushka Gunathilaka cleared of sexual assault charge

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  The 32-year-old Sri Lankan was arrested in November 2022 and trialled in a Sydney court for "stealthing" © Getty Sri Lanka cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka has been acquitted of sexual assault charges by a Sydney court, AAP reported. The 32-year-old was  arrested  in November last year on the sidelines of the T20 World Cup after a woman accused him of sexual intercourse without consent. He was charged on four counts of rape but only one count of "stealthing" and was taken up by the court for trial. Gunathilaka pleaded not guilty and faced a four-day long trial in front of Judge Sarah Huggett in the Downing Centre District Court. Gunathilaka, who is under suspension from all forms of cricket by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), is now free to return to Sri Lanka. "The evidence establishes that there was no opportunity for the accused to remove the condom ... because that intercourse was continuous," Judge Huggett said during the verdict, noting that the cricketer ha

Chloe Tryon returns for New Zealand series

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  Tyron last played an ODI in July 2022. © Getty Chloe Tryon, the hard-hitting all-rounder, has returned to South Africa's squad for the upcoming three-match ODI home series followed by five T20Is against New Zealand, Cricket South Africa announced on Wednesday. Tryon played her last T20I in February 2023 while her last ODI came in July 2022. Laura Wolvaardt, who was recently named as the national women's team's interim captain will continue to lead in the New Zealand series, set to begin on September 24. CSA have named a 16-player squad for the two series combined. The three-match ODI series will be played in Potchefstroom, Pietermaritzburg and Durban and it will be a part of the ICC Women's Championship 2022-25. The ODI series will be played following a one-off warm-up match between New Zealand XI and South Africa XI at the WIllowmoore Parkin Benoni. South Africa, who were recently whitewashed in their maiden T20I series in Pakistan, haven't dropped any player fro

'We are concerned with our batting' - Shakib

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  Bangladesh have had their concerns with the bat this tournament. © AFP Bangladesh ODI skipper Shakib Al Hasan said on Saturday (September 9) that their performances in the ongoing Asia Cup is a reality check for them ahead of the forthcoming World Cup, scheduled in India from October 5 to November 19. Bangladesh are on the brink of elimination after they suffered a 21-run defeat to Sri Lanka in their  second Super Four match  at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday. Bangladesh needed nothing but a win to stay alive in the tournament after losing their opening Super Four encounter to Pakistan by seven wickets but failed to do so after their batting unit came up with another dismal performance. "Our batting is going downwards for the last six months (in ODIs) since the series against England and later Afghanistan, now in this tournament and we need to work on it," Shakib told reporters after the game against Sri Lanka. "We are concerned with our batting and we

NZ World Cup squad: Neesham, Young in; Allen, Jamieson and Milne out

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  Young is likely to open with Devon Conway at the World Cup © Getty New Zealand have preferred Will Young over Finn Allen in their 15-man squad for ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. Pacers Kyle Jamieson and Adam Milne, who  was ruled out  of the ODI series against England, also miss out. Trent Boult and James Neesham, both without a central contract, have made the cut. Boult, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry make up the pace department along with all-rounders Daryl Mitchell and Neesham. Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner are the specialist spinners in the side. Michael Bracewell, the spin-bowling all-rounder, was  unavailable for selection  after suffering a right achilles injury that's sidelined him for six to right months, and that opened doors for Neesham's selection in the squad. Squad: Kane Williamson (c), Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (vc,wk), Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravi

Bumrah rejoins Indian team, ACC announce reserve day for Pakistan clash

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  India's pace spearhead had returned to India for the birth of his first child and missed the league match against Nepal © AFP Jasprit Bumrah has re-joined the Indian team after a brief hiatus from Asia Cup duties in view of the birth of his first child. He arrived in Colombo early on Friday, just in time for India's first Super 4 match against Pakistan on Sunday. His arrival coincides with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announcing a reserve day for the upcoming crucial match. Due to the persistent inclement weather in Colombo, the ACC has rightly decided to designate a reserve day for Sunday's fixture. In case the weather affects the game on the scheduled day, it will continue on Monday from where it left off. It's worth noting that there are no reserve days allocated for the other Super 4 matches due to back-to-back games, but the final will have a reserve day in case of rain, Bumrah had left Sri Lanka immediately after India's initial game against Pakistan on S

Starc eyes much-awaited return to IPL in 2024

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  by    Cricbuzz Staff   •    Published on   Thu, Sep 7, 2023, 09:34 AM Share Tweet Despite being one of the best white-ball bowlers of his generation, Starc has featured in the IPL only twice © AFP Mitchell Starc's self-imposed exile from the IPL is all set to end with the pacer setting his sights on returning to the competition in 2024. He last played IPL in 2015. Even though Starc is regarded as one of the best bowlers of his generation in white-ball cricket, having topped the wicket charts in the last two editions of the ODI World Cup, he has chosen to stay from the IPL over the years. The left-arm pacer has played only the 2014 and 2015 editions of the competition but is now set to enter the auction in order to play next year. Over the years, the pacer has stayed away from the IPL in order to spend time with his family and keeping himself fresh amidst the busy international schedule. He did enter the auction in 2018 and was purchased by Kolkata Knight Riders before he backed o

'We were never communicated those calculations' - Trott on missed opportunity

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  Afghanistan lost out on a Super Four spot in agonising fashion. © AFP Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott made a shocking revelation after his side's heartbreaking two-run defeat to Sri Lanka in Lahore on Tuesday (September 5). Needing to score the required target of 292 in 37.1 overs to qualify, Afghanistan found themselves at 289/8 at the end of the 37th over. This meant that they effectively needed three runs off a single delivery to book their Super 4s berth. Rashid Khan, who had been going great guns till that point, found himself at the non-striker's end. What he along with the other batters didn't know is that Afghanistan had until 38.1 to get the job done, provided they got to 297. So, they could have gotten to 293 after 37.2 overs, 294 after 37.3, 295 after 37.5, 296 after 38 overs, or 297 after 38.1 to usurp Sri Lanka on NRR. This meant there were several permutations still available for Afghanistan but Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and then Fazalhaq Farooqui who followed