Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 7 runs in Women''s World Cup
Navi Mumbai (PTI): Half-centuries from captain Nigar Sultana and batting stalwart Sharmin Akhter went in vain as Bangladesh lost to Sri Lanka by seven runs in a thrilling Women's World match, here on Monday.
With this loss, Bangladesh are out of the competition, while Sri Lanka kept their slim chance of securing a place in the knockouts.
Chasing Sri Lanka's target of 203, built on Hasini Perera's 85, skipper Chamari Athapaththu's 46, and Nilakshika Silva's 37, Bangladesh were going steady with Sharmin (64 retd hurt) and skipper Nigar (77) scoring half-centuries.
But a late-order collapse saw them stranded at 195/9 in 50 overs.
Chamari (4/42) emerged the most successful Sri Lankan bowler after taking three wickets in the last over.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka 202 all out in 48.4 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 46, Hasini Perera 85, Nilakshika Silva 37; Shorna Akter 3/27, Rabeya Khan 2/39).
Bangladesh 195 for 9 in 50 overs (Sharmin Akhter 64 retd hurt, Nigar Sultana 77; Sugandika Kumari 2/38, Chamari Athpaththu 4/42).
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
