Pakistan beats SL to 2-0 lead

Despite Upul Tharanga’s heroics with the bat, Pakistan went 2-0 up in the five-match series after beating Sri Lanka by 32 runs in the second ODI in Abu Dhabi.

Chasing a tricky target of 220 runs, Sri Lanka’s batting line up faltered and they were reduced to 93/7 before Tharanga along with Jeffrey Vandersay stitched a stand of 76 runs for the eighth wicket.

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in second Test, take series

Sri Lanka now trails fifth ranked Australia (97 points) by three points.

Thirteen months after lifting the prestigious ICC Test Championship mace for topping the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings, Pakistan have plummeted to seventh in the latest Test team rankings, which were updated following the conclusion of its home series against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka not only won the series 2-0 but handed Pakistan only its second whitewash in a home series (Pakistan lost all three Tests against Australia in 2002-03).

Gunathilaka suspended for six matches

Sri Lanka Cricket has suspended opener Danushka Gunathilaka for six international matches on disciplinary grounds, Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed on Thursday.

He has also been imposed a 20% fine of his applicable annual contract fee for violations of Section 30 (a-ii ) and 30 (b) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka Cricket and of clauses 3.1.2, 3.1.9, 3.3.1, and 3.4 of his contract with Sri Lanka Cricket during the recently concluded India Series in Colombo.

Malinga dropped from Pakistan ODI squad

Malinga, who has shown indifferent form since making his comeback to the national set-up, had an ordinary series against India at home last month and as a result, has fetched the axe. Former skipper Angelo Mathews, who couldn't feature in the ongoing Test series due of a calf injury, has failed to recover in time for the ODIs.

Mathews, who has been plagued by calf and hamstring injuries in recent times, faced a fitness test on Monday (October 2). "Angelo is struggling. We thought he will be okay for the ODIs, but on Monday while running he felt the pain again and has been ruled out. It's a massive loss for us," a Sri Lanka Cricket spokesman told Cricubzz.

SL beat Pakistan by 21 runs

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 21 runs in the first Test of the 2-Test series as Pakistan failed to chase down a meagre 136-run target and were all out for 114. Sri Lanka lead the series 1-0 now.

Pakistan were 67 for 5 at Tea and with skipper Sarfraz Ahmad and Haris Sohail still at the crease, there was some hope still in the Test for the hosts. However, Pakistan kept losing wickets after the Tea break. Sarfraz got out after scoring 19 runs while Haris Sohail scored 34 runs, highest in the innings.

ICC launches corruption probe in Sri Lanka

The ICC has confirmed its Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has opened an investigation in Sri Lanka, less than 48 hours after 40 top cricketers petitioned Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to launch an inquiry into corruption allegations.

On Friday, SLC confirmed it had received a letter signed by national players, including captains Dinesh Chandimal and Upul Tharanga, urging the board to probe the "baseless allegations" the players claim were made by former cricketer and selector Pramodya Wickramasinghe. The board, however, stopped short of stating it would launch the probe, and merely recounted the current players' dismay at having their integrity questioned. But the ICC itself has now publicly established ACU officers have recently visited Sri Lanka in relation to an investigation.