Dates: 29th August – 7th September 2025
Format: 2 ODIs & 3 T20Is
Sri Lanka continued their dominance over Zimbabwe during this period.
ODI Series Highlights
- Sri Lanka won the ODI series 2–0 convincingly.
- Star Performer – Pathum Nissanka:
- He scored 198 runs in 2 matches, showing superb form at the top order.
- His consistent scoring ensured Sri Lanka had strong batting foundations.
- Bowling Contributions:
- Asitha Fernando & Dilshan Madushanka led the attack with 5 wickets each across the series.
- Their pace and swing troubled Zimbabwe’s batters.
- Player of the ODI Series: Pathum Nissanka
T20I Series Highlights (up to 3rd September)
- The T20I leg was well contested, with Sri Lanka taking a 2–1 series win.
- Pathum Nissanka again showed his batting class, contributing 96 runs in the T20Is.
- Bowling Hero – Dushmantha Chameera:
- He grabbed 8 wickets, bowling with speed and accuracy.
- His early breakthroughs were decisive in restricting Zimbabwe.
- Player of the T20I Series: Dushmantha Chameera
➡️ Overall, Sri Lanka looked strong in both formats, showing depth in batting and bowling, while Zimbabwe continued to struggle against quality opposition.
🏏 2. Netherlands Tour of Bangladesh (T20I Series)
Dates: 30th August – 3rd September 2025
Format: 3 T20Is
Bangladesh hosted the Netherlands in a short but exciting T20I series.
Series Outcome
- Bangladesh sealed the series 2–0 (the third match saw interruptions and was inconsequential).
- The Tigers looked dominant on home soil.
Key Performances
- Litton Das (Bangladesh):
- Scored a remarkable 145 runs across the series.
- His stroke play and aggressive intent at the top proved too good for the Dutch bowlers.
- He was rightly awarded Player of the Series.
- Netherlands Resistance:
- Their batting lineup struggled, but Aryan Dutt showed promise with 43 runs, being their most consistent batter.
- Bowling Battles:
- For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed led the charge with 6 wickets, troubling the Dutch with pace and bounce.
- For the Netherlands, Kyle Klein stood out with 4 wickets, though his efforts weren’t enough to turn the tide.
➡️ Bangladesh’s clinical approach reaffirms their rise in T20 cricket, while the Netherlands showed glimpses of fight but lacked depth in batting.
🏏 3. UAE T20I Tri-Nation Series (UAE, Pakistan, Afghanistan)
Dates: 29th August – 7th September 2025
Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, UAE
A competitive triangular T20I series involving Pakistan, Afghanistan, and UAE continued during this period as preparation for the upcoming Asia Cup.
Tournament Progress (till 3rd September)
- All three teams rotated their squads to test bench strength ahead of bigger tournaments.
- Matches were close, with batters and bowlers both getting good practice in Sharjah’s conditions.
Top Performers (up to 3rd Sept)
- Batting Leaders:
- Ibrahim Zadran (Afghanistan) – 194 runs (solid anchor role).
- Muhammad Waseem (UAE) – 163 runs (local hero, aggressive at the top).
- Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) – 155 runs (attacking left-hander, giving Pakistan explosive starts).
- Bowling Leaders:
- Mohammad Nawaz (Pakistan) – 10 wickets (consistent with his left-arm spin).
- Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – 9 wickets (world-class leg spin, hard to hit).
- Haider Ali (Pakistan) – 6 wickets (useful medium pace).
Player of the Series (as per performances so far)
- Mohammad Nawaz (Pakistan) stood out, not only with the ball but also contributing with handy lower-order runs.
➡️ This series gave valuable exposure to UAE cricketers, while Pakistan and Afghanistan tested their combinations before heading into the Asia Cup.
📊 Quick Recap Table (1st – 3rd September 2025)
| Series / Tour | Key Updates | Top Performers |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka in Zimbabwe (ODIs & T20Is) | SL won ODIs 2–0, T20Is 2–1 | Pathum Nissanka (Runs), D. Chameera (Wkts) |
| Netherlands in Bangladesh (T20Is) | BAN won series 2–0 | Litton Das (145 runs, Player of Series) |
| UAE Tri-Nation (UAE, PAK, AFG) | Ongoing, competitive build-up for Asia Cup | Nawaz (10 wkts), Rashid (9 wkts), Zadran (194 runs) |
✅ In summary, the first three days of September 2025 in international cricket saw:
- Sri Lanka dominating Zimbabwe in both ODIs and T20Is.
- Bangladesh crushing Netherlands with Litton Das leading the charge.
- UAE hosting a competitive tri-series, where Pakistan and Afghanistan fine-tuned their squads, and UAE showed glimpses of talent.
