Matheesha Pathirana to miss initial part of IPL 2026, confirms KKR coach
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Abhishek Nayar confirmed that Matheesha Pathirana would miss the initial phase of IPL 2026. Pathirana, who was ruled out of the recently concluded T20 World Cup due to a calf strain, would be available only from mid-April. Meanwhile, KKR have already been hit by the absence of Harshit Rana due to a knee injury. Although he is not officially out of IPL 2026, the team has started exploring options already.
“The latest update is that he is with the Sri Lankan cricket board for his rehab. Somewhere mid-April is when they feel he’ll be match fit,” Nayar said.
“Firstly, it is a big blow, because Harshit has been an integral part of this team for the last couple of seasons, including the championship season. He has grown a lot as a cricketer over the years, so it’s not easy to replace him.”
The KKR coach further told, “Having said that, over the last few days, we have looked at a few bowlers. We’re trying to evaluate, with the help of the leadership group, who fits in and who can do that role to the best of their prowess. We haven’t made the decision yet, but hopefully we will identify someone soon who can make a difference to this squad.”
Fanny Utagushimaninde becomes youngest to score a hundred in women’s T20Is
Fanny Utagushimaninde from Rwanda became the first woman to score a hundred on T20I debut. At just 15 years and 223 days, she scored an unbeaten 111 off 65 balls against Ghana in Lagos in the Nigeria Invitational Women’s T20I Tournament. She also became the youngest to score a hundred in women’s T20Is. Her hundred helped Rwanda reach 210/3, to which Ghana could manage only 88 for 8 and lost the match by 122 runs.
The previous record for the highest individual score by a woman on T20I debut belonged to Australia’s Karen Rolton- 96 not out against England in Taunton in 2005. Earlier, the record of the youngest centurion belonged to Uganda’s Prosscovia Alako, who had scored 116 against Mali in Kigali in 209 at 16 years and 233 days.
Ireland to host bilateral series against Afghanistan
Cricket Ireland decided to host a bilateral series against Afghanistan this year despite the “moral discomfort” the board is facing due to the Taliban’s treatment of women. Ireland’s chief executive, Sarah Keane, informed that the invitation is also for the Afghanistan Women’s team, defending the decision to host the men’s team.
“Cricket Ireland has made a decision to play Afghanistan in Belfast this year.” She added, “I want to acknowledge up front the moral discomfort that I think we all sit with around this decision and are clear abhorrence of how the regime treats women in particular, but we also see it very much as an opportunity to reference the Afghan women’s team, the displaced team.”
Keane further said, “We didn’t just invite the Afghan men to come here. We’ve also invited the Afghan women’s team to come here, and we’re in discussions around how that might happen. Scheduling would be a problem for this year, but it’s really important that they don’t fall off the agenda because if you decide not to play and you decide not to talk about it, then they’re not on the agenda.”
