COLOMBO: Captain Steve Smith admitted Tuesday the Champions Trophy would be on Australia minds when they play Sri Lanka in two one-day internationals this week, the final warm-ups for the eight-team tournament.
The Champions Trophy begins on February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai, and 50-over world champions Australia are in a group with England, South Africa and Afghanistan.
Australia face Sri Lanka in Colombo on Wednesday and Friday, fresh from a dominant 2-0 Test series sweep.
“I’d be lying if I said the Champions Trophy wasn’t at the forefront of our minds — it’s a massive ICC tournament for us,” Smith told reporters in Colombo.
“While our focus is firmly on finishing this series on a strong note, there is no denying that the Champions Trophy is looming large. We want to make sure we carry good form into that competition.”
Both ODIs will be played as day games, a rarity in modern cricket.
The floodlights in Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium are out of action as part of renovations ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted with India.
“Day games are quite different,” Smith said, adding he couldn’t remember his last ODI day match.
“But whatever the conditions, it’s going to be warm out there, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Before coming to Sri Lanka, Australia held a training camp in Dubai to prepare for “challenging wickets” in Sri Lanka, said Smith.
“The batters found methods to succeed in these conditions, the spinners worked on varying their pace, and the seamers fine-tuned their reverse swing,” he said.
“We hope to bring all that into this series and finish well.”
Sri Lanka did not qualify for the Champions Trophy after a dismal ninth-place finish at the World Cup in India in 2023.
“It’s disappointing, no doubt about it — but there’s nothing that we can do about it now,” Sri Lanka’s stand-in captain Charith Asalanka said.
“What’s important is that we make sure this never happens again.”
Asalanka said the team wanted to focus on their successes — including beating India in 2024 in the first ODI in 27 years.
“We need to build on that momentum,” Asalanka added.
Australia look to fine tune for Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy with Sri Lanka ODIs
https://arab.news/b2u3y
Australia look to fine tune for Pakistan-hosted Champions Trophy with Sri Lanka ODIs
- The Champions Trophy begins on February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai
- Australia are in a group with England, South Africa and Afghanistan
Ten Hag back to his roots at FC Twente from next season
- The Dutchman has signed a contract until mid-2028, returning to the club where he began his playing career in 1989 and ended it in 2002
Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is to return to his old club FC Twente as technical director from next season, the club has announced.
The Dutchman has signed a contract until mid-2028, returning to the club where he began his playing career in 1989 and ended it in 2002.
The 55-year-old will join the Enschede club on February 1 and succeed technical director Jan Streuer, who retires at the end of the season.
“I think it’s wonderful and special to return to FC Twente, where I’ve been a supporter since I was a young boy,” Ten Hag said in a statement on the club’s website.
“My football career began here. With my experience in youth development, team building, and elite sports culture, I want to strengthen FC Twente’s technical foundation so that the club can sustainably realize its potential as a regional flagship.”
After retiring as a player at Twente, Ten Hag became head of the youth academy and then assistant manager before going on to coach at Go Ahead Eagles, FC Utrecht, Ajax Amsterdam and Manchester United, who fired him in October 2024.
He became Bayer Leverkusen coach last year, making a return to Germany where he had already spent two seasons as coach of Bayern Munich’s reserves from 2013 to 2015.
But his contract with Leverkusen was terminated after just two Bundesliga matches, a record in Germany. Ajax approached Ten Hag in November about succeeding sacked coach John Heitinga, but he said he had no interest in returning to Amsterdam.
