Sports
Top dog Sri Lanka aims at top finish at Asia Rugby tournament
By A Special Sports Correspondent
Sri Lanka is excitedly getting ready for the Division 1 Asia Rugby 15-a-side Championship which will now be contested between Sri Lanka, India, Qatar and Kazakhstan in Colombo.
Asia Rugby decided to scrap the Division 2 championship after Iran and Pakistan pulled out of competing in this tournament. Hence Kazakhstan’s inclusion in the Division 1 tournament to fill the void created by Pakistan’s unavailability.
Undoubtedly this event sees host Sri Lanka taking the field as the top dog. The islanders enjoy a world ranking of 44 in 15-a-side rugby and should have it easy against India (ranked 87th in the world) in the second match of the tournament. This match is scheduled to take place on April 30 (Tuesday) at 19.00 pm after the curtain raiser to the tournament which is between Qatar (world ranked 94) and Kazakhstan (world ranked 64); scheduled on the same day at 16.00 pm.
This tournament gives Sri Lanka a golden opportunity to bring its national rugby team back into action after the bans it was slapped with by World Rugby and Asian Rugby. The island’s rugby players are raring to go after long period of ‘inactivity’ in the international stage. Sri Lanka did send a team for the last Asian Games, Asian Sevens Series and Commonwealth Games, but then the preparations that went into compiling the national team for these events were inadequate. The volatile environment present for rugby activities in Sri Lanka didn’t help either in preparing the national team for these events.
Now Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) is headed by Retd. Group Captain Nalin De Silva and ‘Himalayan’ efforts are being made to host this tournament at the Race Course-the country’s official venue to host international rugby events. De Silva was quoted saying Asia Rugby’s official website the following regarding the upcoming tournament: “Our players wish to display natural talents and skills and also to share and strengthen our deep-rooted cultural ties through rugby with the visiting Asia Rugby teams”. The inspiring news for Sri Lanka is that the islanders just finished their club rugby season and all the clubs have released their players to attend national pool training.
Sri Lanka’s participation at the Asian Men’s Rugby Championship has been inspirational at times, but heartbreaking too; especially when the islanders have had to face too many challenges off the field. Now the side is relegated to the Division 1 tournament having earlier played in the ‘Asia Men’s Championship’. Sri Lanka’s biggest worry has been the unavailability of players and some players refusing to perform in full capacity when playing for the country in overseas tournaments. The icing on the cake for Sri Lanka could be put this time by three coaches slotted into take charge of the national players. They are Sanath Martis, Dushanth Lewke and Nilfer Ibrahim.
Sri Lanka can only boast of past laurels when talking about the Division 1 tournament. Back in 2019, Sri Lanka, competing in the Division 1 tournament, finished as winners in the 3rd place playoff after winning a crucial game against the hosts, Chinese Taipei. The score read 72-17 in favour of Sri Lanka. In that tournament, Sri Lanka lost in the semis finals of the main competition when they went down fighting to Philippines 39-22.
Now the islanders get another opportunity to put their rugby in order. The Sri Lankans should have it easy against India, a side having a deep-rooted history in rugby like the host team, but going down in the annals of Asia rugby as a nation that never really blossomed in the international stage. Rahul Bose, the President of India Rugby, was quoted in the Asia Rugby official website saying, “As a national federation it is our consistent effort to create conditions for our players where they can put their best foot forward on the international stage”.
Qatar has been a force in the Division 1 tournament over the years. Its Rugby Union President Yousef Al Kuwar was quoted in the Asia Rugby official website stating, “Our 15-a-side programme is very important as we have aspirations to play at the highest level”. Qatar will be meeting Kazakhstan, a side which has also taken a dip in rankings and performance in the international rugby stage. Kazakshtan Rugby Union President President Aigul Jartybayeva has been quoted in the Asia Rugby web site stating, “We are very happy to participate in the Asia Rugby Division 1 Championship in Colombo, Sri Lanka. We are keen on building our men’s team programme and hope to participate and compete in an Asia Rugby tournament such as this. In time, our men’s team can replicate the remarkable success achieved by our women’s programme in both in 7s and 15s. I would like to wish all the athletes the best of luck.”
The focus on Asian rugby these days is on the 15-a-side tournament which will feature the best teams in the second tier of this region. The teams contesting the top tier or the Asia Men’s Championship are Hong Kong China, Malaysia, South Korea and UAE.
Vijayakanth Viyaskanth broke the stand with Parvez’s wicket and triggered another collapse. Bangladesh went from 50/5 to 72/8 in the space of 18 deliveries, the chase now well beyond their reach. Sri Lanka’s bowling quartet of Ratnayake (2-18), Nuwan Thushara (2-18), Vijayakanth Viyaskanth (2-26), Wanuja Sahan (2-17) did all of the damage as Bangladesh were bowled out for 102 – 63 short of their target.
Scores:
Sri Lanka 165/9 in 20 overs [Sahan Arachchige 33, Ashen Bandara 18, Thjarindu Rathnayake 65; Mahedi Hasan 2-19, Al Islam 1-18, Rishad Hossain 1-46, Saif Hasan 2-28, Mustafizur Rahman 2-43] beat Bangladesh 102/10 in 17.3 overs [Parvez Hossain Emon 20, Towhid Hridoy 11, Yasir Ali 21, Rishad Hossain 10, Nasum Ahmed 26; Nuwan Thushara 2-18, Tharindu Rathnayake 2-18, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 2-26, SahanArachchige 1-09, Wanuja Sahan 2-17, Dushan Hemantha 1-11] by 63 runs.
[Cricbuzz]
Opening batter Sineth Jayawardena has charged into the Sri Lanka T20I squad for the series against Pakistan, while Vijayakanth Viyaskanth has claimed the legspinner’s spot in the absence of the injured Wanindu Hasaranga. Seam-bowling allrounder Chamindu Wickremesinghe has also been named, as has batter Sahan Arachchige, while seamer Binura Fernando makes a return.
Omitted from the squad were the likes of batter Charith Asalanka, fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka, ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Rathnayake, and batting allrounder Janith Liyanage.
Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera was named in the squad, but his participation is subject to fitness.
Jayawardena, 21, has got his call-up because of an outstanding recent run in domestic T20s. In the past month, he has struck 101 off 52 and 82 off 32 for Tamil Union Cricket Club in the club T20 competition. He has played a single T20I, at the ongoing Asiad, but otherwise has never been part of a full-strength Sri Lanka side.
Others, such as Wickramasinghe, Arachchige, and Viyaskanth have earned their call-ups through years of performance at domestic level. Each of these players has appeared in T20 internationals for Sri Lanka before, but with the national team having had little success in this format in 2026, this inclusion represents their best chance yet to embed themselves within the side.
The three T20Is, which are all set to be played in Rawalpindi, will begin on October 9.
Sri Lanka squad :
Kamil Mishara, Sineth Jayawardena, Kusal Mendis (capt.), Lahiru Udara, Sahan Arachchige, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera (subject to fitness)
At the end of a wretched week in Nisshin, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have something real to play for: an Asian Games bronze.
Both teams have a point to prove. Bangladesh recovered well from a poor start in their semi-final against Pakistan, thanks to Towhid Hridoy’s efforts with the bat, but their bowlers couldn’t defend 111 in a 13-overs-a-side game, and Mustafizur Rahman was taken to the cleaners in one of his rare poor outings in T20Is.
But at least they ran Pakistan close. In the other semi-final, India ran riot over Sri Lanka, bowling them out for 45. Sri Lanka had a second-string side on the field, but they wouldn’t have bargained for the basic mistakes they made, like the three run-outs in their innings.
Bangladesh, who can call on most of their first-choice players, start the third-place match as clear favourites, but the testing conditions at Nisshin can even up contests that look one-sided on paper. And both teams will have the motivation of bringing joy to contingents that have endured mostly barren Asian Games campaigns.
After a run-less Australia tour where Litton Das made three ducks in a row in the Test series, he was out for 2 against Pakistan. Litton faced just three balls, off which he attempted two reverse-sweeps, the second of them costing him his wicket. It was a perplexing innings on a pitch that offered a lot of turn and awkward bounce. Sometimes it’s hard to say if a batter is really out of form when he’s made a string of low scores, but Litton, who has led Bangladesh impressively in this format over the last couple of years, will want to break out of this run quickly.
Sahan Arachchige couldn’t quite muster up a captain’s performance against India, especially after his top three batters fell for ducks. He scored 9 before falling to a sweep shot against Axar Patel. He had earlier taken two wickets with his offbreaks. The 30-year-old allrounder now has the chance to put together a better show and inspire his team to the bronze.
Both teams could test their bench strength in the bronze-medal match.
Sri Lanka (probable): Sineth Jayawardena, Lasith Croospulle, Sohan de Livera (wk), Nuwanidu Fernando, Sahan Arachchige (capt), Ashen Bandara, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanuja Sahan, Tharindu Ratnayake, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Binura Fernando.
Bangladesh (probable): Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Litton Das (capt), Parvez Hossain Emon (wk), Towhid Hridoy (c), Mosaddek Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Aliss Al Islam/Nasum Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman/Hasan Mahmud.
[Cricinfo]
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