Sports

Winless tour heaps pressure on Sri Lanka

Published

3 weeks ago

2025/11/24

Very little has gone right for Sri Lanka during the tour of Pakistan

Sri Lanka have spent close to three weeks in Pakistan and five games in, they are still searching for that elusive first win. Losing, as they say, is part and parcel of the great game, but it’s the manner of these defeats that should set alarm bells ringing. After years of blood, sweat and tears to climb out of a deep rut, the national side looked to have finally turned the corner. Yet on this tour they have gone back to their old ways, undoing hard-earned gains and returning to square one.

As they head back to the drawing board, Sri Lanka must remind themselves what sparked their revival in the first place. The spark came from energy, discipline and self-belief, qualities rooted in superb fielding and fitness. As recently as the Asia Cup, they were the sharpest unit on the park, throwing themselves around like a side hungry for success. Then came the tinkering. They tampered with a combination that wasn’t broken, the recall of Bhanuka Rajapaksa being a glaring case in point. As the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The players must shoulder their share of blame. By questioning security arrangements and toying with the idea of returning home despite clear assurances, they took their eye off the ball. The moment they shifted focus away from cricket, the wheels began to wobble. In a country that once played international cricket amidst a three-decade civil war, this fuss felt like a distraction the team could ill afford. Cricketers should stick to playing cricket and leave security to the security experts. It is said that even Sri Lanka’s Defence Secretary had been briefed about the arrangements in place for the team and he had given the thumbs up.

Tactically too, Sri Lanka have come a cropper. Success in one format doesn’t guarantee success in another, yet they continue to lump all formats together and pay the price. Old demons have reappeared: a chronic struggle against spin, batting collapses that come like clockwork and a top order that gets starts but fails to convert. The killer instinct simply isn’t there.

They had no business losing the ODI series. In fact, they should have wrapped up the first two games but somehow managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The slip from fourth to fifth in the ODI rankings was self-inflicted and even sixth-placed South Africa are now breathing down their neck.

When the T20s arrived, Sri Lanka looked flat. It is true that Charith Asalanka had overstepped and needed a firm reminder, especially with his indifferent T20 form. But turning back to Dasun Shanaka feels like playing a backward defensive stroke when the situation demands a bold drive through the covers. We know exactly what Dasun brings as captain; calling him a stop-gap leader only underscores how shallow the leadership pool has become. What a pity for a cricketing nation that once brimmed with strong, street-smart captains.

Sri Lanka are not out for the count, but unless they rediscover their purpose, hunger and basics, they risk remaining stuck on the back foot, playing catch-up rather than dictating terms.

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Sports

Sri Lanka Under 19s pull off two wickets win against Afghanistan

Published

17 hours ago

2025/12/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sri Lanka Under 19s scored back to back victories as Mahanama College batsman Chamika Heenatigala anchored the tail with an unbeaten half century to seal two wickets victory over Afghanistan U19s in their second group match of the Under 19 Asia Cup in Dubai on Monday.

‎Chasing 236 runs to win Sri Lanka U19s were eight wickets down for 217 runs in the 48th over but Heenatigala with Rasith Nimsara kept their cool to seal the victory with four balls to spare.

‎In their chase, Viran Chamuditha top scored with 62 runs and put on a first wicket stand of 55 runs with Dimantha Mahavithana (27).

‎While Kavija Gamage (34) and Dulnith Sigera (22) made vital contributions with the bat, Sethmika Senevirathne and Sigera took three wickets each.

‎It was Sri Lanka Youth team’s second consecutive win in the tournament after registering their first win against Nepal.

Sports

Dasun Shanaka’s all-round effort can not hold Vipers

Published

17 hours ago

2025/12/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sam Curran bagged two wickets before scoring an unbeaten fifty. (ILT20)

Dasun Shanaka scored an unbeaten 29 and took two wickets but that could not hold Desert Vipers becoming the first team to seal a playoffs spot as they made it six wins out of six on Sunday (December 14) halfway through the league stage of the ILT20 2025-26.

‎Sam Curran produced an all-round effort as Vipers chased down Dubai Capitals’ 166/4 with five wickets in hand and a ball to spare.

‎Asked to bat, Capitals lost Shayan Jahangir to Naseem Shah in the third over and were kept on a tight leash by the Vipers pacers in the powerplay, reaching 35/1. Gulbadin Naib and Leus du Plooy then added 39 at close to a run-a-ball before Noor Ahmad removed his Afghanistan teammate. Capitals were 68/2 at the halfway mark and in need of momentum through the second half of the innings.

‎Du Plooy injected some urgency with two fours off Lockie Ferguson in an over, followed by a six off Naseem Shah to bring up a 38-ball fifty. But Curran turned the innings again with a double-wicket over, dismissing du Plooy and Rovman Powell off successive deliveries. Jordan Cox and Dasun Shanaka, however, ensured a strong finish, striking six fours and three sixes in an unbroken 72-run stand off 40 balls.

‎Max Holden set the tone in the chase, accounting for six of the seven fours Vipers struck in the powerplay. Fakhar Zaman fell to Mustafizur Rahman in the fifth over but Vipers still reached 50 in six overs. Holden was dismissed for 34 by Haider Ali while attempting a slog sweep, and although Hasan Nawaz struck three sixes, he fell to Waqar Salamkheil to leave Vipers at 88/3 after 10 overs.

‎Dan Lawrence and Curran steadied the chase with a 32-run stand before Lawrence was dismissed by Shanaka for 20 in the 14th over. In the same over, Shimron Hetmyer struck a four and a six and was later reprieved by Shanaka. A couple of tight overs followed, but Vipers remained in control, needing 31 from the final four overs.

‎Curran took them closer with two fours off David Willey and a six off Muhammad Jawadullah. With three required in the final over, Hetmyer fell to Shanaka, but Curran finished the chase with a six off the fourth ball, completing a 33-ball fifty to cap a fine all-round performance.

‎‎Brief scores:

‎Dubai Capitals 166/4 in 20 overs (Leus du Plooy 54, Jordan Cox 49*; Sam Curran 2-17)

‎Desert Vipers

171/5 in 19.4 overs (Sam Curran 52*, Max Holden 34; Dasun Shanaka 2-19)

Sports

Akbar Brothers crowned MBSA A-Division champions

Published

1 day ago

2025/12/15

Priyan

Akbar Brothers Ltd delivered a commanding all-round performance to clinch the ‘A’ Division title at the 33rd MSBA League Basketball Tournament, defeating defending champions Fairfirst Insurance 70–60 in a thrilling final held recently.

Despite a group stage loss to Fairfirst, a revitalized Akbar Brothers team returned for the final with renewed focus, executing a strategic and disciplined game plan with some excellent passing and defense. Akbar Brothers came in with all guns blazing right from the outset. The first quarter was all Akbar’s that stacked up a 13 to 4 lead. Fairfirst mounted a strong challenge in the second quarter, narrowing the margin, but Akbar’s momentum secured a 35–28 lead at halftime, a margin they maintained with composure through to the final whistle.

Dasun Mendis led the charge for Akbar Brothers with 18 points and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). Chenura De Alwis added 17 points to the tally, while Shehan Udayanga posted a valiant 22 points for Fairfirst. Dimitri Grebe anchored Akbar Brothers with strong leadership, with Hiran Wijesooriya captaining Fairfirst.

Earlier in the tournament Akbar Brothers beat Sampath Bank (82-71), Seylan Bank (91-68) David Pieris (110-78) and Seylan Bank in the semi final (83-60)

The final, held at the Royal College Indoor Sports Complex, saw a vibrant turnout of supporters as Akbar Brothers proved their championship mettle with teamwork, resilience, and clinical execution.

Akbar Brothers – Dimitri Grebe (Captain), Dasun Mendis, Chenura De Alwis, Randil Henry, Taher Akbarally, Selvam Savarimuttu, Franklyn Morais, Sanketha Jayarathne, Jeewan Priyankera , Praneeth Udumalagala, Ajith Kuruppu (Coach), Adrian Gabriel (Asst. Coach)

Fairfirst Insurance – Hiran Wijesooriya (Captain), Shehan Udayanga , Lakshan Kulathunga, Roshan Randima, Arnold Brent, Isuru Perera, Denzil Nicholas, Nimesh Fernando, Keshawa Perera, Charaka Anuhas, Asanga Perera (Coach)