Sports

A campaign that promised much but delivered so little

Published

2 years ago

2024/06/23

Thilina Walpola

Sri Lanka’s World Cup campaign ended in bitter disappointment after back to back losses in New York and Dallas.

by Rex Clementine

Since winning the ICC T-20 World Cup in 2014, Sri Lanka had blown hot and cold in ICC events over the last ten years. But heading into this year’s T-20 showdown in the Caribbean and the United States, there was lot of hope. But it was all back to square one after a first round exit not able to make it to the Super Eight stage.

Along with Sri Lanka, former champions Pakistan and title contenders New Zealand were thrown out of the competition as Bangladesh, United States and Afghanistan progressed to the second round instead. It was a bitterly disappointing campaign.

This year, Sri Lanka had beaten both Bangladesh and Afghanistan convincingly in bilateral events. On that form you would have expected them to make it beyond the group stage, but the reality was harsher than what they had expected.

Sri Lanka had flown into the United States two weeks prior to the campaign. But all that preparation did not mean anything as the batting was a flop and bowling did not live up to expectations.

There will be a review about this campaign at Maitland Place and questions should be asked as to whether these two weeks were properly utilized. Look at Bangladesh. They too came to the US early but unlike Sri Lanka, they were involved in a bilateral T-20 series against the hosts.

The team’s batting approach obviously backfired. On USA tracks that were not ideal for batting, the team aimed too high and met their waterloo. The first five overs should have been an indication that these were no 160 tracks. In New York, they were shot out for just 77 runs, Sri Lanka’s lowest ever total in T-20 cricket. You expected the team to learn the lessons by the time they got to Dallas for the high pressure game against Bangladesh as they were facing elimination. But the aggression with the bat continued and that night the writing was on the wall for Sri Lanka. Whether they could progress to the next round or not were beyond their hands from thereon.

There’s no point in pinpointing one batter when the whole unit had flopped, but you always thought that Charith Asalanka was a smart cricketer than this. In both games he was dismissed trying to hit against the wind. The smartness he had exhibited over the years in building up innings vanished in double quick time.

Captain Wanindu Hasaranga’s came into the competition as the world’s number one ranked all-rounder and the team depended heavily on him. He too flopped with the bat and was barely a threat with his leg-spin. His decision making like opting to bat first in the unknown territory of New York was bizarre while his bowling choices were outrageous.

On returning home, Hasaranga claimed that some cricketers were behind attacking the team through social media platforms. This needs to be investigated. Disgruntled parties attacking the team when thrown out of the side is a dangerous precedent and should be nipped in the bud.

Not often have Sri Lanka taken a fully fit Dushmantha Chameera for a competition and not given him a game. Surely, after back to back defeats he should have featured in at least one game. Maheesh Theekshana’s one wicket after three games gives an indication about the team’s over reliance on him.

Dasun Shanaka was a failure too. He has been that for a while now. Maybe it’s time for the selectors to try out Janith Liyanage in the all-rounder’s slot.

Despite all the criticism, you’ve got to feel for the demanding schedule that was handed out to Sri Lanka. The former champions played their four games in four different venues. Flying across three US cities and to the Caribbean was demanding, but as professionals, you would want them to take up these challenges on the chin.

Envy England’s schedule though. In the first round, they played two games in Barbados and two games in Antigua. In the second round, they are in St. Lucia for two games and then back in Barbados for the remaining game. That’s not cricket when you consider the demanding schedules some other teams have had.

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Ronaldo apologizes for Portugal walkout; says Jesus broke promise

Published

7 hours ago

2026/10/7

Priyan

Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal's leading scorer (Aljazeera)

Cristiano Ronaldo has accused Portugal ‌coach Jorge Jesus of twice breaking his word, saying a failed agreement to publicly ⁠explain his omission ⁠against Norway drove him out of the camp, but insisting he remained available after any punishment.

In a lengthy statement, the 41-year-old gave his account of the dispute ⁠that prompted his departure from Copenhagen before Portugal’s Nations League match versus Denmark last week.

Ronaldo said Jesus had agreed a plan under which the forward would miss the Norway and Denmark ⁠matches to manage his fitness. However, on the day of the Norway game, the coach told him he would play for 30 minutes.

“Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from halftime onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn’t called on,” Ronaldo said.

“The manager had broken his word to me.”

Portugal’s ‌captain and all-time leading scorer said a subsequent meeting with Jesus, attended by his club side Al Nassr’s sporting director Simao Coutinho, produced an agreement for the coach to clarify events at his next news conference.

According to Ronaldo, an eight-point document was prepared saying he had never demanded playing time, had respected Jesus’s decisions and that the coach asking him to warm up without bringing him on had been a mistake.

Ronaldo said the agreed notes did ⁠not require Jesus to apologise to him but said the coach’s ⁠public remarks bore no resemblance to their private discussion.

“It was the second time he had broken his word to me,” Ronaldo said. “I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises.”

The statement provided Ronaldo’s account⁠, but on Sunday, after Portugal’s win over Norway, Jesus denied he had made any agreement with the player, nevertheless leaving the door open ⁠for his return.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) did not immediately respond ⁠to a request for comment about Ronaldo’s statement.

Ronaldo apologised for failing to greet supporters after the Norway match and for leaving his teammates, accepting that his captaincy made his conduct more serious.

“The consequences of my actions must be assessed ‌and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation,” he said.

Despite the rupture, Ronaldo said he was not limiting his international ambitions to a farewell appearance.

“If I’m physically fit, playing for my club – scoring ‌goals, ‌I hope – after serving whatever suspension is imposed on me, I’ll be available, as I’ve always been until now, to compete and win for our national team,” he added.

(Aljazeera)

Sports

Nalanda on the cusp of reaching knockout stage as unbeaten run continues

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

Rusandu Silva has nine wickets against his name after three matches.

by Reemus Fernando

Nalanda College, Colombo continued their unbeaten run to come closer to securing a berth in the knockout stage as they beat Gurukula College by nine wickets in the Under 19 Division I Tier A Limited Overs Tournament match played at Campbell Place on Tuesday.

‎With Rusandu Silva continuing his impressive run in the tournament, Nalanda did well to restrict the team from Kelaniya to just 113 runs (in 35.4 overs).

‎After two outings Rusandu had six wickets against his name coming to this match.‎Rusandu and Methuka Perera claimed three wickets each. ‎Lithum Wijekumara also impressed with two wickets, while Santhul Wijeyarathne took one.

‎Adeepa Pinsara was the only batsman to make a contribution of note as he top-scored with 35 off 49 balls, including four fours and two sixes, while Javindu Madusanka made 20.

‎In their chase Nalanda made light work of the modest target, reaching 114 for one, scoring at a rate of over a run a ball.

‎Nadul Jayalath cracked an unbeaten 62 from just 52 balls. His innings contained four fours and five sixes. He received valuable support from Lithum Wijekumara, who scored 35 off 42 deliveries with six boundaries.

‎Ranmith Senarath completed the successful chase with an unbeaten 10 off seven balls, including two fours.

‎Nalanda lost only one wicket as the opening pair added 89 for the first wicket. Jayalath and Senarath then finished the contest comfortably, securing a convincing nine-wicket victory with many overs to spare.

‎It was Nalanda’s third successive victory in the Tier A tourney after having beaten Thurstan (155) by seven wickets and St. Servatius’ Matara (187) by four wickets in the first two matches.

‎As of now, they are the leading team in Group G where they have only St. Joseph’s Darley Road to meet before the knockout stage.

‎With just two teams advancing to the next stage from each Group Nalanda are almost assured of their place.

Sports

Wins for Hayley’s Group ‘A’ , HNB ‘A’ and CDB on Saturday

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

33RD SINGER – MCA Super PREMIER LEAGUE

Hayley’s Group ‘A’, HNB ‘A’ and CDB registered wins by defeating Colombo Aces, Fairfirst Insurance and SLC Youth in the matches of the Mercantile Cricket Association’s Super Premier League cricket tournament on Sunday (04).

The MCA Super Premier League is sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka for the 33rd consecutive year.

At the Bloomfield Cricket ground, Nishan Madushka, Pulindu Perera and Minod Dhanuka smashed half tons as Hayley’s Group ‘A’ registered their second win of the tournament defeating Colombo Aces by six wickets.

At the Thurstan ground, Nipun Dhananjaya and Muditha Lakshan posted eighty plus scores to help CDB amass 307/8, which the bowlers defended by 71runs.

At the Colts Ground Milan Rathnayake starred with bat and ball [71 and 3-24] to help HNB ‘A’ overcome SLC Youth by 41 runs. Rehan Pieris topped SLC Youth score card with a 108 ball 77 with six fours and a six.

At Bloomfield Ground Colombo:

Hayley’s overcome Colombo Aces by six wickets

Colombo Aces 222/10 in 49 overs

[ Kavin Bandara 62, Dinura Kalupahan 50; Dhanajaya Lakshan 2-14, Ramesh Mendis 4-36]

Hayleys Group A 227/4 in 25.2 overs [Nishan Madushka 61, Pulindu Perera 51, Minod Bhanuka 54; Dinura Kalupahana 2-35]

At Thurstan College Ground:

CDB BY 71 runs

CDB 307/8 in 50 overs

[ Vishsd Randika 53, Nipun Dhananjaya 86, Muditha Lakshan 89; Himesh Ramanayake 3-49, ]

Fairfirst Insurance 236/10 in 46.4 overs

[Sanoj Dharshika 58, Yasiru Rodriga 78; Movin Subasinghe 3-27, Lahiru Madushanka 2-16]

At Colts ground;