Why Pakistan and England are playing the most extended T20I series in history: seven games in thirteen days.

This prolonged meeting was caused by Covid-19 and the postponed tour from 2017.

The first of seven (count 'em) matches spread across the next 13 days will begin on Tuesday night at Karachi's National Stadium, marking the beginning of England's long-awaited T20 international series in Pakistan.

It will be the most extended T20 international series ever played between full-member countries and the most extended bilateral T20 series ever played. The only other full-member T20I series of more than five games was between India and South Africa's women in October 2019, when a sixth T20I was added after rain washed out the second and third. In November 2019, Malawi hosted Mozambique for seven men's and seven women's T20Is.

This series was initially scheduled to consist of five ODIs before the World Cup in India in February-March 2023; however, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 T20 World Cup has been pushed back to October-November 2022, and the 50-over World Cup has been made back to October-November 2023.

Even though the men's squad was only scheduled to play two T20Is in Lahore during a four-day layover en route to the T20 World Cup last year, the ECB abruptly canceled the tour out of concern for the players' mental and physical well-being.

When PCB chair Ramiz Raja suggested Pakistan had been "used and binned" by cricket's "Western Bloc," ECB chief executive Tom Harrison and deputy chair Martin Darlow flew to Lahore in November 2021 to explain the circumstances of their withdrawal.

Both nations will rotate their squads to keep their top players fresh for the T20 World Cup next month, which was agreed upon by the boards during the trip. This series will now consist of four Twenty20 Internationals.

Jos Buttler, who will not be eligible to play again until the Lahore leg of the trip, stated, "Seven games will be a test." Some of them are consecutive, so we'll need to manage our roster carefully. We need to take care of a few bowlers. We have to put them out there and get them in fighting shape, but we can't afford to take any unnecessary chances.

As England's coach, Matthew Mott, said: "Initially, I thought seven games over here would be a lot, but I think it will play into our favor. In this series, we can play several games for the returning players and watch how different players perform under pressure.

In addition to the seven scheduled games, the two sides will play an official ICC warm-up match at the Gabba on October 17.

 Naseem makes me think of myself: Shaun Tait.

Islamabad: Shaun Tait, Pakistan's bowling coach, hailed 19-year-old pacer Naseem Shah, saying he reminded him of himself when he was younger but less educated.

For all his talent as a cricketer, Naseem Shah sometimes makes me think of myself when I was his age. He has an independent streak in him. However, I did not have his level of intelligence at his age. When questioned about Naseem's performance against India in the first match of the T20 Asia Cup, Shaun Tait stated, "I believe you've all seen his natural ability and skill with the new ball, which is outstanding." This was said during a press conference here on Saturday.

The ex-Australian pacer had similar things about Pakistan's speed battery: "Pakistan fast bowlers have their inherent abilities. They prefer to keep things basic, yet they are incredibly talented and creative. That's why it's so easy for them to do; it's a habit.

The bowling coach sees recent improvements by Haris Rauf as a positive indicator for the squad and thinks he checks all the right boxes. He just talked with Haris about maintaining a steady tempo, which he believes pleased his coach. The only consistency has been discussed so far. How to keep things steady is what we focus on. Since Haris already has speed and aggression, we usually focus on the importance of maintaining a steady demeanour. We focused on his death bowling, and he progressed in the T20 Asia Cup, as you mentioned.

While he was uncertain about Shaheen Shah's condition, he was hopeful that he would recover. The truth is that I don't know very lot about Shaheen. The bowling coach, who was sick yesterday and had to miss practice, reported that his player was doing fine.

In response to a query on the upcoming Pakistan-England series, Tait stated that he expects the pitches used in the upcoming seven-match series, which begins on September 20th, to be the type that is "quite excellent for wickets."

"PROUD TO LEAD," SAYS MOEEN ALI

T20 ENGLAND VS T20 PAKISTAN

Sunday, England's all-rounder Moeen Ali said it was an honour to lead his team against Pakistan, where his family has deep ties.

Moeen Ali, a native of Birmingham, has captained England in T20s previously, but he recognises that this tour is unique. When asked about leading England in such a monumental series, Ali said, "Obviously, with my roots coming from here and to lead England in such a major series, a historic series is a massive and proud occasion." Everyone I love and respect, including my parents, extended family, friends, and town's people, are very proud of me. Taking the helm and representing England on the field is a tremendous honour.

Ali spent a portion of his childhood in Mirpur in Azad Kashmir, where his paternal grandpa came from. There is concern that Buttler, injured at last month's The Hundred tournament, would miss the entirety of the Pakistan series. I don't know (whether or when Buttler will play), he's being cautious, but he might get in a couple of games towards the trip's conclusion.

The World Cup is our priority, so we are not taking any chances with his health. When asked about the absences of Liam Livingstone, Chris Jordan, and Ben Stokes, Ali said England's young side should not be underestimated since they are a very excellent white-ball side.

 Saul "Canelo" Alvarez Wins Final Fight of Trilogy Against Gennady Golovkin.

With scores of 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113, the judges all sided with Alvarez to keep his titles. The 40-year-old Golovkin, the current undisputed middleweight champion, was no match for Alvarez, who won his second consecutive fight against him.

On Saturday night in Las Vegas, Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez defeated Gennady Golovkin for a third time to retain his undisputed super middleweight world title, ending their acrimonious rivalry.

The 40-year-old Golovkin, the current undisputed middleweight champion, had a hard time keeping up with Alvarez's high level of activity and work rate, and Alvarez easily won their rematch.

Both of their previous middleweight title fights took place in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena in 2017 and 2018, with the first bout ending in a controversial draw and Alvarez winning the second fight through a split decision.

Neither of those thrilling fights was replicated here, as Alvarez dominated with superior hand speed and maintained control of the center of the ring for most of the bout.

Following his second career loss in his previous fight against WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol in May, the 32-year-triumph old's was a triumphant return to form.

Golovkin was outclassed for the opening two-thirds of the fight, but he finally came alive in the ninth round, stunning the champion with a left hook and significantly upping his output.

With scores of 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113, Alvarez retained his championships and cast serious doubt on Golovkin's future in boxing.

 Sri Lanka is keeping its Asia Cup team intact for the World T20.

Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara will lead the team for Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup. The side had previously surprised everyone by winning the Asia Cup.

Matheesha Pathirana and Asitha Fernando, who both made their debuts in the Dubai competition last month, were cut from the initial 15-man roster to make place for the more seasoned pair.

Both Chameera and Kumara are coming back from injuries. Thus their participation is contingent on their health.

On standby for the competition beginning on October 16 in Australia are Ashen Bandara and Praveen Jayawickrama.

Political upheaval prevented Sri Lanka from hosting the Asia Cup.

They lost their opening game but beat Pakistan by 23 runs on Sunday to win.

Dasun Shanaka (captain), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan.

 Graham Potter is experiencing new problems with Chelsea because of the Thiago Silva issue.

As Thiago Silva continues to see playing time for Chelsea, former Brighton manager Graham Potter will face a new defensive conundrum.

While Graham Potter lucked out in his first game as Chelsea manager by having an almost entirely functional squad against RB Salzburg, there were omens of the elevated management challenges he will face.

Mateo Kovacic's return to fitness bolstered the midfield, and N'Golo Kante's absence from the outfield was the only notable absence. It allowed Potter to put into action the widely shared early ideas for his Chelsea plan, but it only took one scary incident to bring him back to reality.

While Potter's decision to switch things up in the middle and with Raheem Sterling proved effective, the fact that Thiago Silva made a costly error was a negative aspect of the game. The genuine concern is not that he made a mistake (such plays are rare enough that they might have been stopped even after his terrible sliding tackle), but rather what it could signal for the future.

Silva and his management will get more complicated if, as former player Scott Minto indicates, the error was due to tired legs.

In a talkSPORT interview, Minto stated, "the point of it all... We've spoken in glowing terms about Thiago Silva before. Why are you plunging in headfirst? He rarely takes risks like that. Perhaps I'm just too sleepy to figure it out. He hurls himself in when he didn't have to."

Even though it's highly unusual for a player of Silva's caliber to make a mistake, Potter may have to rethink how often he plays Silva, who will turn 38 the week after next.

Due to Thomas Tuchel's strategic decision-making, he played 32 times in the league last season. Still, Potter has never dealt with an aging player as crucial as Silva or the international repercussions of losing him.

Since he started 14 of Brazil's 20 games last year and was on the roster for all but one, Tite does not need to change his starting lineup for the upcoming winter World Cup. This may have given Chelsea hope that they wouldn't need him for the remaining two pre-tournament-friendly matches.

Unfortunately, Tite included the 107-cap Silva in his team for the forthcoming games against Ghana and Tunisia.

Neymar, Fabinho, Richarlison, and Allison are all part of a group that includes some experimentation but also lacks three Arsenal stars missing in action (Gabriel Jesus appears to have been rested). There is a chance that Silva's presence would be too much for Chelsea to handle, with his advanced age and prowess at pregame preparation.

With any luck, Silva will be acceptable to play for the Blues again on October 1 against Crystal Palace. With Cesar Azpilicueta and Kalidou Koulibaly also over 30 and requiring game management, Potter has a massive task on his hands to keep a group of players fit for more matches in a situation he has yet to encounter at this level, and this won't diminish the number of air miles that will be in his legs.

 Venus Williams pressured Serena to return to tennis, she says.

The renowned tennis player would not rule out returning to the courts shortly.

Earlier on Wednesday, Serena Williams explored the prospect of her return to professional tennis, just days after announcing the end of her long career in the WTA.

Williams's sad retirement announcement at the U.S. Open last year capped a career in which she won 23 Grand Slam trophies, second only to Margaret Court's 24.

Will Serena Williams return to professional tennis?

Serena Williams, however, has started to open the idea of a return to the courts and correctly invoked Tom Brady to explain why this option might become a reality.

You never know," Williams remarked. I was telling someone how "I think Tom Brady launched a fantastic trend,"

Serena Williams and Tom Brady have had successful careers spanning over two decades, and the two have expressed affection and respect for one another. However, according to Williams, the lady who has had an even longer career is the one who is truly to blame for trying to make her regret it.

Serena Williams was under intense pressure from Venus Williams to

Serena Williams added, "She (Venus Williams) is not done yet." "I'm just being honest.... She's playing me, and I'm not playing along."

Serena is optimistic that her love of tennis will continue after she puts up her racquet. The Williams sisters lost in the U.S. Open doubles first round.

Serena Williams has stated, "Tennis has given me so much, and I feel like there's no way that I don't want to be engaged in tennis anyway in the future." "I'm not sure what that engagement will be just yet, but I do know that I adore sports, the game, and everything associated with them. Because it has brought so much joy into my life, I feel compelled to continue participating in some capacity."

 Cricket and netball victories provide joy to Sri Lanka's crisis-stricken nation.

Since the island nation is experiencing power outages and shortages of food, fuel, and medicine, the spectacle provided a welcome diversion for many Sri Lankans.

Sri Lanka's Twenty20 cricket team arrives in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sept. 13, 2022. (Eranga Jayawardena/AP)

In recent months, Sri Lanka's capital city, Colombo, has seen record numbers as anger over the country's economic collapse sparked protests that ultimately toppled a political dynasty.

On Tuesday, crowds gathered once again in Colombo, but this time they were celebrating two separate sporting victories rather than protesting corruption.

On Sunday, Sri Lanka's men's cricket team defeated Pakistan in the final of the Asia Cup, the shortest version of the game, to win the tournament for the first time in eight years. Almost no one foresaw such a result from a match moved from Sri Lanka to the UAE owing to political and economic upheaval.

2022 anti-government protest in Colombo, Sri Lanka. On Sept. 13, 2022, crowds returned to Colombo to celebrate twin sporting victories. (NYT/Atul Loke)

On Sunday in Singapore, Sri Lanka's women's netball team won the Asia Cup. Netball, like cricket, was brought to South Asia by British colonials.

The victorious teams waved from open-top buses as they were surrounded by adoring fans during a procession at the Colombo international airport early on Tuesday morning. As the island nation struggles with power outages and shortages of food, fuel, and medication, the spectacle provided a welcome diversion for many Sri Lankans.

As cricket writer and author of "Upon a Sleepless Isle: Travels in Sri Lanka by Bus, Cycle, and Trishaw," Andrew Fidel Fernando put it: "There's a tremendous crisis ripping through homes all over the nation at the moment, and political divides have intensified as well."

He wrote, "In that light, it's hard to overestimate the importance of sporting accomplishment." Many people experience a sense of pride in their nation for a short period, bringing people together for a little while of happiness.

Jeffrey Vandersay kisses the Asia Cup 2022 trophy while riding on an open bus in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 13, 2022. (Eranga Jayawardena/AP)

Months of protests against an entrenched political class that bankrupted Sri Lanka led to the country's president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, resigning in July and fleeing the country on a military plane. We're closer to normalcy, but essentials are still scarce.

Sri Lanka and the IMF agreed last month on a $3 billion rescue package. The IMF's executive board must also approve. A few days later, the deposed president Rajapaksa returned home, demonstrating that his family still holds significant sway in the country's politics.

In a country where cricket has been respected for decades, the current success of the men's team without a marquee player is surprising.

In particular, the team beat the number one rated team in the world, Australia, at home in a five-day test match in July. Some protesters surrounded the stadium in the southern city of Galle on the second day of that five-day match, while others stormed Rajapaksa's home in Colombo. Days later, he would resign, run away to the Maldives, and send his resignation by email from Singapore.

After their victory over Australia, some fans started to believe that the men's squad, who many in the country feel to be politically affiliated with their cause, actually had a shot at winning this month's T20 Asian championship. Yet, that optimism was met with formidable headwinds in the shape of sports analytics that favoured more challenging opponents, especially India and Pakistan.

Martha De Silva, the 29-year-old head of sales and marketing of a Sri Lankan company that owns luxury homes and is an avid cricket fan, said, "We were the extreme underdogs going in." Everyone had given up on us.

Sri Lanka lost their tournament's opening match to Afghanistan, a lower-ranked cricket side.

A thought crossed my mind: "If Afghanistan is treating us this badly, what are India and Pakistan going to do to us?" On Monday, cricket analyst Mark Machado said this in a podcast on Sri Lankan cricket. If we lose to Bangladesh, it's possible that we won't even get to play them.

Fernando's "energetic, virtually without exception" fielding helped the side beat Bangladesh and upset India and Pakistan.

Sri Lanka's women's netball team has continuously been rated in the top three of their region. Thus their win at the Asia Cup was not a surprise, according to Estelle Vasudevan of ThePapare.com.

Even yet, Vasudevan emphasized the significance of that win given the team's limited financial resources to support its players in the face of power outages and fuel shortages. She also noted that many more people in Sri Lanka noticed it because it occurred around the same time as the men's cricket victory.

Hiruni Kasturiarachchi, a 28-year-old lawyer and former member of Sri Lanka's under-19 national netball team, expressed hope that the women's Asia Cup would draw attention to a sport that most Sri Lankans were generally "not so keen on," adding that significant victories of any kind, in any sport, were welcome at this juncture in the country's history.

She explained that the gloomy mood was widespread due to the current predicament. Sports victories are indeed often a bright spot in otherwise dreary situations.