Sri Lanka Cricket Team

Sanath Jayasuriya has decided to step down as Sri Lanka's head coach in the wake of his team's abysmal performance in the T20 World Cup. Co-hosts Sri Lanka lost all their games in the Super 8s stage. In the preliminary stage they were beaten by Zimbabwe and recorded wins against Australia and the lowly Oman and Ireland. "My contract ends in June but I will go before that, I will be talking to Sri Lanka Cricket to decide my stepping down," Jayasuriya told reporters after Sri Lanka lost to Pakistan on Saturday. "We should have done better, I am sorry and I apologize to fans," Jayasuriya, the player-of-the-tournament when Sri Lanka won the 1996 ODI World Cup, said. He said Sri Lanka was badly hampered by the injuries to Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana and Kusal Mendis. "Their replacements could not perform to the levels required. Hasaranga was my best player you can't easily find a replacement for him," Jayasuriya said blaming both bowler and batter inconsistency for the poor

ICC T20 World Cup HIGHLIGHTS: Pakistan failed to restrict Sri Lanka to 147 or below to surpass New Zealand's net run rate as the Kiwis join England as the second team from Group 2 in the semifinals

Top two teams from Group 2 qualified for the semi-finals after the end of the Super 8 round of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026

Pakistan's semifinal qualification hinges on net run rate: Business Standard takes a look at target they can set, the overs required to finish the chase, and the margin needed to overtake Kiwis' NRR

The second semifinal spot in the Group 2 points table of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 round will be on the line when Pakistan take the field against Sri Lanka

Farhan earlier scored his maiden T20I ton against Namibia in the Group Stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026

Pakistan will be looking to earn their place in the semifinals with a win over Sri Lanka in Pallekele

Pakistan and Sri Lanka, despite their rich rivalry history in cricket, will play each other for the first time at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Pakistan need to secure a big win over Sri Lanka today to book their place in the semifinals of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026

The fate of New Zealand's chances of semifinal qualification depends on the result of the Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match today

Fitness and form were not the only areas in which Sri Lanka failed, said captain Dasun Shanaka as he also blamed the "negative environment created outside" for his team's ouster from the T20 World Cup and oddly urged the government to protect the players from criticism. Shanaka apologised to his country for the disappointing ouster from the Super Eight stage after a 61-run loss to New Zealand following a 51-run defeat at the hands of England. However, he was not too happy with the criticism that his players were facing due to underwhelming performances. "As players, it's very hard for us to control the outside noise. So, most of the time, we mainly hear negative stuff, so no matter how positive we are as players, there is a negative environment created from the outside," he said after the loss to New Zealand here on Wednesday. "So that's a disadvantage for cricket in Sri Lanka, we only have this game and I don't think this could be saved. So, why the negativity is being spread like

A 2-wicket win courtesy of a Harry Brook hundred for England on the night meant that the Three Lions have confirmed their qualification into the semi-final with 2 wins in as many games.

ICC T20 World Cup HIGHLIGHTS: Sri Lanka has become the first team to be eliminated from the Super 8 round of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026

Sri Lanka are under immediate pressure following a heavy 51-run loss to England national cricket team in their Super Eight opener.

New Zealand's Super Eight opener against Pakistan was washed out without a ball being bowled due to persistent rain in Colombo.

The Black Caps head into this game having had their Super Eight opener against Pakistan abandoned due to persistent rain, which left both teams sharing a point.

If Pakistan qualify for the semi-finals, they will feature in Semi-final 1 in Colombo on March 4. In that scenario, Colombo becomes the confirmed venue for the fixture.

The top two teams of Group 2 will qualify for the semifinals after the end of the ICC T20 World Cup Super 8 round

ICC T20 World Cup HIGHLIGHTS: England have now extended their unbeaten run against Sri Lanka in T20Is to 12 matches

Both Afghanistan and Canada will look to finish their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 with a win today