“As a leader, he’s shown great character, which will benefit the rest of the team.”

What sets Rathnayake apart is his strategic use of both arms while bowling. 

Bangladesh senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin said it was a "very good effort by the batsmen".

Gabela, 35, said: "I had to be here and welcome the boys home. They have suffered so many heartbreaks during the past two decades. Now we are champions of the world."

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto fell two runs short of 150 after offering a catch to Angelo Mathews on the second morning of the Galle Test against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

"Kohli is the king, Shubman is the prince — that's the narrative that they spin out there, and I feel that he's the coming man," said Buttler, who stepped down as England's white-ball captain in February after their Champions Trophy exit.

While Markram’s second-innings century set the stage for a historic chase, it was Rabada’s fiery spells-- nine wickets across both innings-- that laid the foundation. 

His positive intent, smart footwork, and assuredness set the tone for a dominant start to Bangladesh’s new WTC campaign.

The contest carries added significance as it marks the final appearance of veteran Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews in Test cricket — a swansong fittingly staged at the venue where his storied career began 15 years ago.

Mathews, 38, confirmed that the series will mark the end of what he called a “dream run” in the longest format.

The Dutch posted 152 for seven and appeared set for the win as Nepal required 16 runs from the final over, but Nandan Yadav scored a boundary on the last ball to force a Super Over.

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto hopes that his side would start the upcoming ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle on the right foot as they prepare to take on hosts Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series, scheduled to get underway on Tuesday in Galle.

“Cricket teams need to be run by cricket people,” Kirsten said, adding: “Once I was taken off selection and asked to take a team I hadn’t helped shape, it became very difficult to have any sort of positive influence.”

Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews on Monday said that he holds no grudges over getting timed out by Bangladesh in the 2023 ODI World Cup a day before facing the familiar foes in his final ever Test match in Galle.

Bangladesh will shuttle between Sri Lanka and India four times for their round robin matches of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, which will be held in those two neighbouring countries from September 30 to November 2.

Statistically, Shanto’s best performances have come at number three. 

The former Proteas pace ace boldly predicted that India’s upcoming five-Test series in England will be a result-heavy thriller, with the hosts edging it 3-2.

Can the perennial chokers defeat the ultimate champions? This was the question floating around before the World Test Championship (WTC) final between South Africa and Australia.

"It's very hard for the average cricket fan to understand who's the best team in the world and how exactly the top two teams make it to the final," said former England captain Michael Vaughan, now a television pundit.

If there were still doubters of Test cricket's enduring magic in the age of T20 fireworks, South Africa’s thrilling five-wicket victory over defending champions Australia offered the most poetic rebuttal.