Sri Lanka Cricket Tour Continues Safely

Nov 16, 2025 - 21:00
 2
Sri Lanka Cricket Tour Continues Safely

The Sri Lankan cricket team has decided to continue their ODI tour of Pakistan despite reports that some players demanded to return home after the first ODI in Rawalpindi. Former and current Pakistan cricketers generally applauded the relocation.

The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board affirmed the players that all the safety measures were being taken, in consultation with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the local authorities. The PCB also assured that any player who did not want to participate would be replaced to ensure the series would not be halted.

Ex-pacer Shoaib Akhtar and Tanveer Ahmed praised Sri Lanka for its dedication, saying that the best friends are those who stand by you in tough times. The fact that the tour is going on is evidence of collective action to sustain cricket and resist interference, according to former captain Ramiz Raja.

Current Pakistan stars also welcomed Sri Lanka’s decision. Shan Masood commended the Sri Lankan board for paying attention to the situation, whereas Salman Ali Agha invited fans to watch the rest of the matches. ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi emphasised the importance of the tour being a win for the game of cricket.

The second ODI will now be held on Friday, November 14, and the last ODI will be on Sunday, November 16. The move by Sri Lanka to remain highlights the intentions of the two countries to remain with international cricket, and the hard work of the PCB and the local authorities has been to provide safety to the players and the smooth running of the series.

The series has now become iconic of the toughness of the sport, as it has shown unity, bravery and the power of cricket to unite even in these times of uncertainty. The fans have been called to come and support the team by attending the remaining games inthe  stadiums.

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has been appointed assistant coach of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the IPL 2026 season, joining a revamped coaching setup alongside head coach Abhishek Nayar and mentor Dwayne Bravo.

Watson’s appointment comes after KKR finished seventh in IPL 2025, prompting a complete overhaul of the team’s management. Former New Zealand pacer Tim Southee has also joined the staff, balancing franchise commitments with a consultancy role with England cricket over the past six months.

“It’s a great honour to be part of a franchise as iconic as Kolkata Knight Riders,” Watson said. “I’ve always admired the passion of KKR fans and the team’s commitment to excellence. I’m eager to work closely with the coaching group and players to help bring another title to Kolkata.”

This marks Watson’s second IPL coaching stint, having previously served as deputy to Ricky Ponting at Delhi Capitals during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Most recently, he completed a three-season tenure as head coach of the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket (MLC).

Despite KKR wanting a full-year assignment, Watson chose to retain his broadcasting and other coaching commitments.

Watson is widely celebrated as a T20 all-rounder, having been part of title-winning squads in the IPL, BBL, and PSL. He was named MVP during Rajasthan Royals’ inaugural IPL title in 2008 and finished his IPL playing career with Chennai Super Kings, playing a pivotal role in their 2018 title run, scoring 555 runs in 15 innings, including a century in the final.

The post Sri Lanka Cricket Tour Continues Safely appeared first on Ten Sports TV.