Sports
Pace dominates spin in Sri Lankan attack
by Rex Clementine
When Singer boss Hemaka Amarasuriya headed the cricket board some 20 years ago, one of his keen interests was to build up a cricket academy at RPS like the one in Brisbane, Australia. The Queensland Academy was producing top notch cricketers at a rate and Amarasuriya had ambitious plans.
A keen sports enthusiast who loved both rugby and cricket, Amarasuriya wasn’t just interested in producing fine cricketers, but giving a professional outlook on them as well. The academy that he introduced taught players essentials of life such as managing finances, cricket history, etiquette and English among many other things.
Sadly, once Amarasuriya left office, the academy stationed at RPS ceased to exist. His visionary thinking should have been carried forward.
Along with the academy came the program called Pace Ace, a unit headed by Rumesh Ratnayake and supported by Champaka Ramanayake. Those days Sri Lanka were solely depending on Chaminda Vaas and the need to have more fast-bowling resources was felt.
Not only did the two coaches work with the next crop of quicks, but they also went headhunting for promising talents and were able to spot the likes of Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara, just to name a few.
Similarly, you see several young fast bowlers coming up in recent years and it seems that Sri Lanka’s fast bowling strengths are better than spin options. Usually, it is the other way around. You have got to give credit to SLC’s District and Provincial coaches who have done an excellent job over the years in grooming rare talents.
Hambantota district where just a handful of schools play the game of cricket has produced the cream of the nation’s fast bowlers in recent years. There is Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka and Pramod Madushan. Of course, there is also workhorse Suranga Lakmal, whose journey from Debarawewa to Derbyshire has been quite sensational.
The only captain to have won a Test match in Barbados, the fortress of West Indies cricket, is not Imran Khan, not Kapil Dev, not Arjuna Ranatunga but Lakmal.
It is the return of Dushmantha Chameera lead up to the World Cup Qualifiers that has enabled Sri Lanka to breathe easy. The quickest man in Sri Lankan colours is going to knock over the associate nations. He returned to international cricket this month after a seven-month layoff due to surgery and was quite a handful troubling the Afghans with his pace and not too often a Sri Lankan quick ends up as Player of the Series at home.
There maybe not much cricket left in Chameera as he has been constantly injured and rarely fulfilled his promise. The team management has carefully looked after his workload but even then he struggled with fitness and Sri Lanka will be hoping that he won’t break down this year which is very crucial with the Asia Cup and World Cup coming up.
Lahiru Kumara is capable of challenging Chameera when it comes to pace. Kumara at times struggles with his control whereas Chameera is on the money and tempts batters to take risks with his tight bowling.
The most improved bowler of them all is Kasun Rajitha, who has taken over Lakmal’s role since the tall quick retired last year. It is Rajitha’s discipline and his ability to move the ball that has proved to be handy and often he provides a breakthrough earlier on.
All the talk is about left-arm quick Dilshan Madushanka, who became the highest paid player in LPL with teams bidding for his services fiercely. He will take home a cool US$ 92,000 for just two week’s work. But the left-arm seamer who doesn’t get much attention is Binura Fernando. Standing at six feet and six inches, the former D.S. Senanayake College cricketer generates a steep bounce thanks to his height.
Matheesha Pathirana provides raw pace and his slingy action has not only earned him the nickname ‘podi Malinga’ but also has given Chennai Super Kings a quality death bowling option as they went onto win the IPL this season. The former Trinity player is yet to convert his success in franchise cricket into international cricket and questions remain whether he will be effective in the 50 over format.
The fact is Pathirana is just 20 and he will learn as he goes along and will win Sri Lanka lots of games in years to come.
Gradually, Sri Lanka’s attack has become pace oriented than spin. Wonder whether the curators should prepare pitches accordingly for home games. Not many pacemen barring Vaas and Malinga have had a major impact for Sri Lanka for a long period of time. You just get the feeling that all that is set to change.
Sri Lanka will begin their three match T20I series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Friday with an opportunity for several youngsters to stake their claims, although the absence of Pathum Nissanka leaves a sizeable hole at the top of the order.
Nissanka, Sri Lanka’s highest-ranked batter in the ICC T20I rankings, has been one of the side’s most consistent performers in recent years and his absence deprives the tourists of a proven match-winner against a Pakistan attack that will still carry plenty of firepower despite resting several senior players.
The three T20Is will be played in Rawalpindi on October 9, 11 and 13 before attention switches to the seven match ODI tri-series involving hosts Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England.
While Sri Lanka will miss Nissanka, his absence opens the door for highly rated Sineth Jayawardene, who has been earmarked as one for the future. The former Sri Lanka Under-19 captain now has an opportunity to show that he can make the considerable jump from domestic and age group cricket to the international stage. Sineth skippered Royal College, Colombo with distinction.
There will also be considerable interest in leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, another player Sri Lanka have invested in with an eye on the future. With Wanindu Hasaranga out of the equation, Viyaskanth has an opportunity to make a strong case for a regular berth rather than remain on the fringes.
Sri Lanka will be encouraged by the fact that Pakistan too have opted to look beyond some of their established names for the T20I leg of the tour.
Sahibzada Farhan will captain Pakistan after leading them at the recently concluded Asian Games in Japan, taking over from Salman Ali Agha, who has been left out of the T20I squad. Salman remains part of Pakistan’s ODI plans.
Pakistan have also rested Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi for the T20Is, although both return for the ODI tri-series, where Shaheen will continue as captain.
The hosts have named uncapped all-rounders Razaullah and Mohammad Imran Randhawa in their 15-member T20I squad, while Maaz Sadaqat and Hasan Nawaz have been rewarded for impressive performances at the Asian Games.
Hasan finished the tournament as Pakistan’s leading run scorer with 123 runs, including a blistering 96 off 51 balls against India in the final, although Pakistan had to settle for silver.
Fast bowler Naseem Shah returns to Pakistan’s T20I squad having last played the format against Sri Lanka in February, while Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed provide experience.
For Sri Lanka, while Nissanka’s runs will be sorely missed his absence means someone else has the chance to put his hand up. Sri Lanka will hope one or two of their young guns grab that opportunity with both hands.
The ODI tri-series will follow the T20Is, with the first three matches being played in Rawalpindi before the tournament moves to Lahore for the remaining league games and the final.
Pakistan have retained a more experienced core for the 50-over competition, with Babar, Salman, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf among those included.
Former Pakistan Under-19 captain Saad Baig has earned his maiden ODI call-up after scoring more than 1,000 runs in the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, while left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Moqim is another notable inclusion.
Pakistan have also strengthened their backroom staff, bringing back former Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait as bowling consultant. Tait previously served as Pakistan’s bowling coach in 2022-23 and replaces Ashley Noffke, who left after the Asian Games to take over as Netherlands head coach.
ATF Under-16 Colombo Week 1 Tennis
Sri Lanka’s junior players delivered a series of impressive performances on Wednesday, with the girls claiming all four semi-final places at the ATF Under-16 Colombo 2026 Week 1 tournament, held at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts.
Damsath Peiris
Methuli Naotunne led the charge with a notable quarter-final win over India’s Yashmitha Santhosh, recovering from a set loss to prevail 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. Kiara Jayamanne also came from behind to beat India’s Ahnavi Shaw 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
Risindi
Hewawasam
In an all-Sri Lankan quarter-final, Risindi Hewawasam overcame Desandi Peiris 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, while Disini Samaraweera defeated Sayli Basnayake 3-6, 6-2, 6-0.
The Sri Lankan boys also impressed. Damsath Peiris beat Buvindu Jayawardhana 8-2, 7-6, and Yonal Dankumbura battled to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Jayan Sebastian.
The visiting players, however, proved tough to beat. The Philippines’ Anthony Castigador defeated Sri Lanka’s Dehan Wickramasinghe 6-2, 6-4, and India’s Gurshaan Chahal fought back to overcome Udeera Gunasinghe 2-6, 7-5, 7-5.
(RF)
Mosvold Sixes 2026 concluded on Sunday at the Colombo Malay Cricket Club with Travel Trends Leisure crowned champions after a closely fought final against last year’s winners, Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka, who finished as runners-up. Transco Travels were second runners-up.
Twenty three destination management companies took part in the six-a-side softball cricket tournament, organised by Mosvold Sri Lanka.
The Mosvold Martinus Challenge Trophy 2026 was presented to the champions by Nilanka Martinus, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Mosvold Boutique Hotels. Chief Guest Farveez Maharoof, the former Sri Lanka all-rounder, presented the runners-up award to Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka.
This year’s twenty three competing DMCs were Tangerine Tours, Sri Lanka Tailormade, Olanka Travels, Antiquity Sri Lanka, Travel Trends Leisure, House of Travels & Tourism, NKAR Travels & Tours, Jetwing Travels, Walkers Tours, Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka, Delux Holidays, Ceylon Roots, Spiceland Holidays, Infinity Vacations, Tropiculture, Serene Travels, Authenticities, Red Apple Travel & Holidays Lanka, DTH Travel Lanka, Hayleys Travels, We stay Ceylon, Transco Travels and Ceylon Tours.
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