Sports

Xavi: History-making Yamal, 15, can mark Barca era like Messi

Published

3 years ago

2023/05/1

Lamine Yamal is the latest highly rated graduate of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez says 15-year-old Lamine Yamal can mark an era at the club after making his LaLiga debut in Saturday’s 4-0 win against Real Betis.Yamal, who doesn’t turn 16 until July, came off the bench for the final 10 minutes to become Barca’s youngest ever debutant in the Spanish top flight.

Former Mallorca forward Luka Romero, now at Lazio, remains the youngest to ever play in LaLiga, but Yamal becomes one of just five players to play in the league before turning 16.

“I told him to try things and he did,” Xavi said of Yamal’s debut. “At 15 years old, just imagine it… He is special and he could have even scored tonight, but [Betis goalkeeper Rui Silva] saved.

“He played with confidence and he showed what he is about. He has no fear and bags of talent. Some of his passes in the final third were really good.”

Yamal has already drawn comparisons with Lionel Messi and Ansu Fati, two other forwards who broke into the Barca first team to great fanfare as teenagers.

“He’s a similar player because he has that innate talent in the final third which is difficult to find,” Xavi added when asked if the three could be compared.

“Lamine doesn’t seem like a 15-year-old, he’s very mature. He’s ready [to play] and he is training well. He can mark an era at this club as part of this team.”

Yamal was given a roaring reception from the 88,000 crowd at Spotify Camp Nou and Barca forward Raphinha, who scored the third goal in the win over Betis, said it won’t be long until he scores his first goal for the club.

“We were talking about it on the bench and I think when I was 15 I was playing for the local team in my neighbourhood,” the Brazil international told reporters.

“Seeing him come on in front of the fans was incredible. It would have been even better if he scored, but I am sure he will get one sooner rather than later.”

Andreas Christensen opened the scoring on his return from injury in the 13th minute for Barca before Betis were reduced to 10 men when Edgar Gonzalez was sent off for two bookings.

Robert Lewandowski added the second and Raphinha the third, with an own goal from Guido Rodriguez completing the scoring late on after Xavi had also brought on Ousmane Dembele, who returned from a three-month injury layoff.

The victory restored Barca’s 11-point lead at the top of the table over Real Madrid as they close in on a first title since 2019 and saw the team return to winning ways after the shock loss at Rayo Vallecano in midweek.

“After the deserved defeat in Vallecas, we needed to react,” Xavi added. “We started well. We were already a goal up when the red card arrived.

“We basically killed the game off in the first half. It was a well-rounded performance from the team, we were able to rotate and give minutes to other players. It’s another step towards our objective.

“It was important for Dembele and Christensen to get minutes. Dembele told me he felt good. We have missed them both. They are special players.”

The defeat leaves Betis nine points back from the fourth and final Champions League qualifying spot.

Coach Manuel Pellegrini accepted Barca were the better side, but he was not happy about the red card, with Edgar dismissed for fouls on Raphinha and Pedri in the first half after coming on for the injured Luiz Felipe.

“The game lasted 20 minutes,” Pellegrini said. “Barcelona dominated, scored from a corner and then the game ended with an absurd dismissal.

“If you ask me, neither of the challenges are bookings. The first one is justifiable because it’s [the referee’s] criteria, but the second has no explanation because it goes against his criteria.

“The referee himself said two times it’s not a yellow and [Barca’s players] made him change his decision. He didn’t show any character.”

(ESPN)

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Sports

India to host inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy in February

Published

13 hours ago

2026/09/3

Priyan

The Brabourne Stadium hasn't hosted an international game since December 2022 [BCCI]

The inaugural six-team Women’s Champions Trophy has been moved from Sri Lanka to India, and will be played in Mumbai and Vadodara from February 14 to 28 next year.

The Brabourne Stadium and the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium will host the T20 tournament. Despite losing the hosting rights because of government interference in their cricket board, Sri Lanka will still be part of the tournament, having qualified after being in the top six of the T20I rankings on the July 6 qualification cut-off date. Australia, England, India, New Zealand and South Africa are the other teams.

According to a media release, the ICC assessed three candidates – Bangladesh, India and South Africa – against its established host evaluation criteria before recommending India as the replacement host on Wednesday.

The Brabourne Stadium hasn’t hosted an international game since December 2022, when India women hosted Australia for a T20I series. It hosted the first-ever season of the WPL in 2023 and also a few matches in 2025. Vadodara, meanwhile, has hosted WPL matches in 2025 and 2026.

The Champions Trophy was due to be Sri Lanka’s second ICC event in two years after they also co-hosted the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup with India. The six participating teams will compete in a round-robin league, with the top two sides advancing to the final on February 28.

The SLC is under interim administration, called the Transformation Committee, which was put in place by the Sri Lankan government and will oversee major board changes including those to its constitution. The ICC does not recognise politically appointed administrations and SLC representatives have not been at ICC board meetings since the Transformation Committee was put in place.

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Mendis, Nissanka return for England white ball series

Published

23 hours ago

2026/09/3

Sahan Weerasooriya

Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka return to the side after missing India Tests due to injuries.

by Rex Clementine

Prolific batsman Pathum Nissanka and white-ball captain Kusal Mendis are back in the fold after being named in Sri Lanka’s ODI and T20 squads for the six-match tour of England later this month.

Both Mendis and Nissanka missed the recent Test series against India through injury. Nissanka was recovering from wrist surgery, while Mendis suffered a hamstring injury during the LPL. It was the first major injury setback for the wicketkeeper batter, who has been a fixture in the Sri Lankan side for more than a decade.

Interestingly, Charith Asalanka has returned to the leadership group as vice-captain. Asalanka was stripped of the captaincy in both white ball formats earlier this year and subsequently fell out of favour with the selectors. His elevation suggests that the experiment of grooming Kamindu Mendis as the all-format vice-captain has, for the moment at least, been shelved.

There are, however, a few concerns heading into the tour. Kusal Mendis and Dushmantha Chameera have not featured in the ongoing domestic tournament, leaving them short of competitive cricket. Chameera’s lack of preparation will be particularly concerning given the fast bowler’s lengthy history of injuries. Pathum Nissanka did turn up for NCC though during this week’s T-20 competition but didn’t make an impact.

The inclusion of 28-year-old leg-spinner Sachindu Colombage in the ODI squad has also raised a few eyebrows.

While Sri Lanka’s T20 game remains a work in progress, their ODI fortunes have taken a significant turn for the better. The side has found consistency and made rapid strides, underlined by automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup in South Africa. It is a marked contrast to the build-up to the 2023 edition, when Sri Lanka were forced to travel to Zimbabwe and negotiate the qualifying tournament to earn their place at the World Cup.

Sri Lanka will begin the tour with the T20 series, with Southampton hosting the opener on September 15. The teams then travel to Cardiff and Manchester before the ODI leg gets underway at Chester-le-Street. Headingley will stage the second ODI, with the tour concluding at The Oval.

The Sri Lankan squad will leave for London on Saturday, September 5, giving them ten days to prepare for the six-match white-ball assignment.

ODI squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (vice-captain), Kusal Mendis (captain), Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Sachindu Colombage, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka.

T20 squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Udara, Kusal Mendis (captain), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (vice-captain), Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Tharindu Rathnayake, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Nuwan Thushara and Binura Fernando.

Sports

Sampath, bowlers steer Golden Green Plantations to title

Published

23 hours ago

2026/09/3

Sahan Weerasooriya

MCA Premier League Champions 2026 Golden Green Plantations

MCA – ABANS PREMIER LEAGUE 2026

A skipper’s innings of 70 runs off 89 balls by T M Sampath and a four fer by Hesham Madushanaka and two wickets by Upul Hettiarachchi helped new comers to the MCA cricket arena Golden Green Plantations defeat David Pieris Group of Companies by four wickets in the final of the MCA-Abans Premier League 2026 and become the first winners of the ‘Abans Challenge Trophy’.

Electing to bat first David Pieris Group of Companies were restricted to 147 runs in 39.3 overs. Santhush Gunathilake who opened innings topped the score card with a fluent 53 off 50 balls with seven fours and a six. Asitha Wanninayake chipped in with 31 off 59 balls. Heshan Madushanka captured four wickets for 11 runs.

Chasing 148 to win, skipper T M Sampath scored 70 runs off 89 balls with seven boundaries and two sixes before being stumped off the bowling of Dilanka Auwardt, with score on 122/5. Shammu Ashan and Mohamed Shamaz shared a 25 run partnership to equal the scores at 147/6 and Shammu Ashan scored the winning runs with a four.

The Golden Green Plantation Team led by T M Samapth comprised, Heshn Madushanka, Malith Mihiranga, Mohamed Shamaz, Randika Mihiranga, Upul Httiarachchi, Dhanuja Induwara, Gimadu Malkam, Sammu Ashan , Vikum Sanjaya and Johan Pathirana

With only four teams entering the prestigious MCA Premier Leaguethis year, DFCC Bank secured third spot having a slightly better run rate over Nawaloka Hospitals and were unlucky that the opportunity for securing a spot in the final was washed away as qualifier 2 was abandoned on two consuecutive days due to rain.

Player of the Final T M Sampath of Golden Green Plantations receives his trophy from Sajith Athapaththu Chairman of the MCA Social, Bar and Restaurant Committee

Special Awards:

Best fielder of the Final :

Dhanuja Induwara of Golden Green Plantations [3 catches and 1 runout]

Best bowler of the Final:

Heshan Madushanka of Golden Green Plantations [4 wickets for 11 runs]

Best batsman of the Final:

Santhush Gunathilake of David Pieris Group of Companies [53 runs off 50 balls]

Player of the Final ;

T M Sampath of Golden Green Plantations [70 runs and 1 wicket]

Best bowler of the Tournament:

Tharinda Nirmal of David Pieris Group of Companies [13 wickets in 4 innings]

Best batsman of the Tournament: