Sports
Three Sri Lankans appointed to Asian Boxing Commissions
For the first time in history, three Sri Lankan boxing officials have been elected to serve on the various commissions of the Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC). Hemantha Weerasinghe (Referee and Judge), Syamalee Prabuddhika Lokuyaddehige (Women), and Dr. Tharanga Aruggoda (Medical) were elected to serve on the respective ASBC Commissions from 2023 to 2027 at the Board meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand.
Weerasinghe, a Vice President of the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), has been a member of the ASBC R&J (Referee & Judge) Commission since 2015. He was twice appointed as secretary of the ASBC R&J Commission from 2015-2018 and 2020-2023. A distinguished product of St Sylvester’s College, Kandy, Weerasinghe was awarded the boxing Lion in 1986 after representing Sri Lanka as a schoolboy.
Weerasinghe has many accomplishments as a boxer, referee, and administrator at the national and international levels. A two-time national flyweight boxing champion, he represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Boxing Championships and the 2nd South Asian Federation Games in addition to winning the selection tournament for the Commonwealth Games in 1984. An accredited national referee since 2003, he qualified as an AIBA 1-Star referee in 2010 and officiated at the Asian Junior Boxing Championships in 2007 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. An Executive Committee member of BASL since 2004, Hemantha served in various capacities as Assistant Secretary, Secretary, and Vice President. He qualified as an International Technical Official (ITO) of AIBA in 2014 and officiated at more than a dozen international competitions.
Syamalee Prabuddhika is a 2-Star IBA referee who has been the chairperson of the BASL Women’s Commission since 2021. Winner of the Layton Cup and bronze medallist at the National Championship, she has a Black Belt and 1st Dan in karate. A national referee and judge since 2014, she has officiated at the Les Ceintures Boxing Cup in Paris 2022, Eindhoven Boxing Cup in Eindhoven twice, and the 23rd President’s Boxing Cup Indonesia 2019 in addition to tournaments in Hungary and China. A former lecturer at the Ocean University of Sri Lanka and a Human Resource Executive at MAS Holdings, Unichela, Prabuddhika is CEO/Director of Hiyata Services (Pvt) Ltd.
Dr. Aruggoda has served as chairman of the BASL Medical Commission since 2018 and also Secretary of the Navy Boxing Disciplinary Committee. An accomplished doctor of medicine, he got his MBBS from Sri Jayewardenapura University in 2013 and MA in Counseling from the Post Graduate Institute of Kelaniya University in 2014. A graduate in Human Resource Management at IPM in 2016, he completed the Ringside Doctor and Team Cut Technician course of IBA in Budapest, Hungry. He officiated as a ringside doctor at the AIBA Youth Men and Women World Championship in Kielce, Poland in April 2021. Presently he serves as a Medical Officer at Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has removed Nazmul Islam as chairman of the board’s finance committee, following the CWAB’s player boycott of cricket in country until he resigns from his position.
“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wishes to inform that, following a review of recent developments and in the best interest of the organisation, the BCB President has decided to release Mr. Najmul Islam from his responsibilities as Chairman of the Finance Committee with immediate effect,” the BCB said in a statement.
“The decision has been taken in accordance with the authority vested in the BCB President under Article 31 of the BCB Constitution and is aimed at ensuring the continued smooth and effective functioning of the Board’s affairs. Until further notice, the BCB President will assume the role of Acting Chairman of the Finance Committee.
“The BCB reiterates that the interests of the cricketers remain its highest priority. The Board remains fully committed to upholding the honour and dignity of all players under its jurisdiction.
“In this regard, the BCB hopes that all cricketers will continue to display the highest standards of professionalism and dedication to the betterment of Bangladesh cricket during what is a challenging period for the game, and will do their utmost to ensure continued participation in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).”
Both BPL matches on Thursday – the first between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express, and the second between Rajshahi Warriors and Sylhet Titans – have been postponed due to the player boycott.
Even though there seemed to be movement on the issues – the BCB agreed to the player body CWAB’s demands and removed Nazmul Islam from his position as head of the board’s finance committee – but it came too late in the day for the matches to go ahead as scheduled. There was no confirmation yet whether the boycott would be called off or not, and whether the BPL matches on Friday would also be impacted.
[Cricinfo]
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has issued a show cause notice to its director M Nazmul Islam over his “objectionable comments” in public against the country’s cricketers on Wednesday.
The notice came a couple of hours before the scheduled start of the BPL matches for the day, though the players’ body CWAB has called for a nationwide boycott on all forms of cricket unless Islam tenders his resignation.
The four first-division matches in the Dhaka Cricket League scheduled for the day didn’t start on Thursday morning, which caused serious concern in the BCB. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express players, who were supposed to play the first BPL match on Thursday, are sticking to the boycott.
“The board has already initiated formal disciplinary proceedings against the board member concerned,” the BCB statement read. “A show cause letter has been issued, and the individual has been instructed to submit a written response within 48 hours. The matter will be dealt with through due process and appropriate action will be taken based on the outcome of the proceedings.”
ESPNcricinfo understands that some board directors contacted the CWAB president Mohammad Mithun late on Wednesday night, offering that they would make Nazmul stand down from his role as the finance committee chairman. But Mithun said the cricketers’ call for the boycott remained in place.
The toss of the first BPL match on Thursday is at 12.30 pm local time. Once the start time for the match has passed, the CWAB leaders are supposed to hold a press conference, where they will present the BCB with their demands, including the resignation of the director.
[Cricinfo]
Sadio Mane fired Senegal into the final of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 victory over seven-time winners Egypt.
The two-time African Footballer of the Year broke the deadlock in the 78th minute on Wednesday when he let fly from just outside the penalty area inside the bottom left corner after Lamine Camara’s initial effort was blocked.
It sparked joy and relief among the Teranga Lions’ fans in Tangier, where the 2021 champions – after beating Egypt in the final – had taken the initiative but struggled to create clear chances against the Pharaohs’ stubborn defence.
Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly will miss the title match – against either host Morocco or Nigeria, who were to play in Rabat later on Wednesday – after picking up a yellow card that meant a suspension and then going off injured in the 23rd minute.
Koulibaly was booked in the 17th for a tactical foul on Omar Marmoush. The captain was also sent off in the group-stage win over Benin and consequently missed the win over Sudan. His tournament was effectively ended when he had to be replaced by Mamadou Sarr because of injury.
Nicolas Jackson had fired over just before Senegal displayed more attacking intent. Habib Diarra and Pape Gueye also had efforts saved.
Tensions boiled over when Mohamed Salah fouled his former Liverpool teammate Mane, but Senegal coach Pape Thiaw and Egypt counterpart Hossam Hassan managed to cool tempers.
Senegal’s Habib Diarra was booked for arguing, however, meaning he will miss the final, too.
[Aljazeera]
BCB removes Nazmul Islam as head of finance committee
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India shuts Kashmir medical college – after Muslims earned most admissions
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BCB issues show cause notice to Nazmul Islam but Bangladesh players firm on boycott
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