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West Indies won the toss and put Sri Lanka into bat, but that was the extent of the action from thesecod ODI at Sabina Park, as persistent rain put an end to proceedings before they had even begun.
The washout means West Indies’ hopes of winning the series are wiped out, but they can still draw level in the final game on Monday. Perhaps more importantly, a win there will give the hosts a much needed rankings boost, with qualification for next year’s World Cup hinging on their final position come March next year.
The toss itself had been delayed by 30 minutes following rain earlier in the day, and it was the possibility of rain intervening later on that had influenced Shai Hope’s decision to field first.
Both teams had also made changes, with Amir Jangoo due to get a game for the injured Matthew Forde, while Eshan Malinga had been drafted in for Asitha Fernando. Shai Hope, playing his 150th ODI for West Indies, received a special jersey before rain came along.
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Heavy showers about 100 mm are likely at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
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Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first in the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
Under bright sunshine at the Pindi Stadium, Kusal Mendis, captaining Sri Lanka in Test cricket for the first time, said there was enough green on the pitch to indicate the quicker bowlers could exploit the first session.
“It looks like a fast-bowling wicket and the first session will be very important,” he said. Sri Lanka have opted against fielding spinner Prabath Jayasuriya, going with four fast bowlers instead: Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka and Milan Rathnayaka. Sonal Dinusha, Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis will be their only spin options.
Babar Azam, Pakistan’s captain, accepted the first morning would be tough.
Pakistan fielded a new-look side for the second Test in a row, with four debutants for the Test. Batters Tayyab Ariff and Mohammad Taha made their debuts, as did spin-bowling allrounder Arafat Minhas and quick bowler Saqib Khan.
Pakistan remain rooted to the bottom of the table in the current WTC standings. while Sri Lanka are placed seventh.
Pakistan : Azan Awais, Tayyab Arif, Mohammad Taha, Babar Azam (capt), Saud Shakeel, Salman Agha, Ghazi Ghori (wk), Arafat Minhas, Razaullah, Mohammad Abbas, Saqib Khan
Sri Lanka : Kusal Mendis (capt), Lahiru Udara (wk), Passindu Sooriyabandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sonal Dinusha, Milan Rathnayaka, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, 11 Dilshan Madushanka
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 09 NOVEMBER 2026 Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 09 November 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
Misty conditions can be expected at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Galle, Matara and Kurunegala districts during the early hours of the morning
Showers or thundershowers will occur at several places in the Northern and Eastern provinces and in Hambantota district.
Showers or thunder showers will occur elsewhere in the island after 1.00 p.m.
Heavy showers above 100mm are likely at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-Western, Northern and North-Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
At the National Productivity Awards 2025/26, the Sri Lanka Navy was one of four institutions to secure first place in the Public Sector Inter-Departmental Category.
The award was presented to the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Damian Fernando, by the President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the National Productivity Awards Ceremony, held today, 8 November, at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo.
Organised annually by the National Productivity Secretariat under the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, the competition aims to foster productivity, efficiency, and innovation across public, private, educational and micro-enterprise sectors nationwide.
This year’s programme was conducted in alignment with the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ national initiative. Six (6) specialised units represented the Navy in the evaluation process: the Naval and Maritime Academy, the Commodore Superintendent Dockyard (East), the Green and Blue Project, the Research and Development Unit, the Machinery Testing & Trails Unit and the Naval Boat Building Yard.
These awards were evaluated on criteria including leadership, client feedback, strategic planning, human resource & knowledge management, organizational results and effective innovation.
Securing a place among the four top-ranked institutions in the Public Sector’s Inter-Departmental Category is not only a remarkable achievement for the Sri Lanka Navy but also a reflection of its unwavering commitment to upholding its proud traditions.
The occasion was attended by senior officers including Director General Engineering, Rear Admiral Hasantha Dassanaike and Director General Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Jayantha Bandara. In addition, the following officers participated as representatives of the institutions and units represented for the National Productivity Awards 2025/26: Commodore Nalinda Dissanayake, Commandant Naval and Maritime Academy, Commander Arunoda Samaranayake, Manager Naval Boat Building Yard; Commander Gihan Premathilaka, representing the Green and Blue Project; Lieutenant Commander Sarath Jayasinghe, representing the Machinery Testing & Trails Unit; Lieutenant Commander Hasitha Dilshan, representing the Commodore Superintendent Dockyard (East) and Lieutenant Commander Chamara Kuruwitha Bandara, representing the Research and Development Unit.
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