Sports
An opportunity missed for Sri Lanka
Chasing down 300 these days is no longer rocket science. On the belters of the subcontinent, sides regularly mow down such totals with the ease of a Sunday stroll. Sri Lanka looked well on track to do just that in Rawalpindi on Tuesday when the openers set the tone with a brisk 85-run stand. Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara were striking it sweetly, while Pakistan’s quicks lost their radar, spraying wides like confetti. Then came the fatal rush of blood — Mishara went for one shot too many, and Pakistan sniffed a chance. Once they had an opening, they pounced like a pack of wolves.
Not that it was a full-blown collapse. Barring Kusal Mendis, who bagged a golden duck, every other batter got a start but failed to carry on. Too many soft dismissals, too few partnerships — the story was all too familiar. When the dust settled, Pakistan held their nerve to scrape home by six runs, leaving Sri Lanka to rue another opportunity gone begging.
Wanindu Hasaranga was the lone bright spark. Earlier in the day, he bamboozled Pakistan with a three-wicket burst and was unlucky to miss a fourth when Hussain Talat survived a tight call. Later, with bat in hand, Hasaranga mounted a valiant rearguard, top-scoring with 59 to take the chase deep. But the top order had left too steep a hill to climb.
Pakistan, aided by a slippery outfield and heavy dew, will be the happier side — the early series lead gives them the inside track in the race for the coveted fourth spot in the ICC rankings.
For Sri Lanka, the biggest letdown was the dismissal of Charith Asalanka. Ranked sixth in the world and the team’s go-to man under pressure, Asalanka has built a reputation for shepherding tricky chases. On this occasion, he danced down the track to the left-arm spinner and paid the price — stumped in rather uncharacteristic fashion. The captain, usually the calm in the storm, lost his head when composure was needed most.
There are quiet murmurs about his fitness, though officials insist his skinfolds are within acceptable limits. Still, on television, he did appear a touch heavier around the midriff — not quite what you’d expect from Sri Lanka’s standard-bearer.
Make no mistake — Asalanka remains the brain and heartbeat of this side. No one in the current setup reads a game better or finishes with the same assurance. Since taking over the reins in turbulent times, he has built this team brick by brick — a unit that has toppled both India and Australia. The next step is consistency, the mark of a truly formidable outfit.
Sri Lanka must now dust themselves off, pick up the pieces and square the ledger in today’s game. And nothing would be sweeter than seeing Asalanka himself steering the chase home.
by Rex Clementine
Gaby Lewis has been rested for Ireland’s upcoming T20I tri-series against Pakistan and West Indies at home in Clontarf as she recovers from a recent leg injury but has been named captain – for the first time at a global event – for the T20 World Cup in June-July in England.
Orla Prendergast, the vice-captain for the World Cup, will lead the side in the tri-series in Lewis’ absence. No vice-captain has been named for the tri-series.
In terms of ins and outs, Jane Maguire, the right-arm medium pacer, has been ruled out of contention with an injury, but her sister Aimee Maguire, the left-arm orthodox spinner, has returned from her own injury and has been included in both squads. Apart from the missing Lewis, there are no changes from the squad for the tri-series, which is a 14-member line-up, for the World Cup.
At the T20 World Cup, Ireland have been grouped with tournament hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, Scotland, Sri Lanka and past winners West Indies.
Ireland are ranked ninth in the format, ahead of only Scotland (11th) among the teams in their group, and will start their World Cup campaign on the second day of competition, against Scotland in Manchester.
Ireland were most recently in action at the T20 World Cup qualifiers played in Nepal in January-February this year, and finished second to Bangladesh.
Lewis’ fitness will be key for Ireland at the World Cup, with her being their top-ranked batter, currently at joint-14th on the ICC T20I rankings. She was also the top run getter at the qualifiers with 276 runs in seven innings, scoring her runs at a strike rate of 119.48.
Prendergast is the next best at No. 26, followed by Amy Hunter at No. 29. Prendergast is also the seventh-ranked allrounder in women’s T20Is.
Ireland squad for women’s T20 World Cup
Gaby Lewis (capt), Orla Prendergast (vice-capt), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell
Ireland squad for tri-series against Pakistan and West Indies
Orla Prendergast (capt), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell
[Cricinfo]
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has issued a statement approving the members nominated for the new Selection Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
The appointments have been made by the Sports Minister in accordance with the powers vested under Section 39 (1) of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 and the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2437/24 dated May 21, 2025.
The members of the new selection committee are:
Kapila Wijegunawardena – Chairman
Amal Silva – Member
Brendon Kuruppu – Member
Waruna Waragoda – Member
Vanessa De Silva – Member
PM meets academic experts from the British Council
Gaby Lewis to lead Ireland at T20 World Cup
PM meets Sri Lankan community living in London
Kapila Wijegunawardena to head SLC’s new selection committee
Afghanistan refugee women’s team set for England tour under ECB initiative
DR Congo cancels World Cup training camp over Ebola outbreak
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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