Sports

A World Cup wake-up call

Published

9 hours ago

2026/03/1

Those of us who have earned our bread and butter from this grand old game have a duty to guard its gates. Cricket has been our benefactor; we cannot now let the grass grow under our feet and drift into mediocrity. Wednesday night’s painful exit from the T20 World Cup left 35,000 fans at the ground shell-shocked, while millions more switched off their televisions hoping it was all a bad dream. Sri Lanka are better than this.

When Pramodya Wickramasinghe and Dasun Shanaka were brought back to spearhead the national selection panel and the team respectively, there were murmurs in cricketing corridors that the move could boomerang. Those warnings were brushed aside. Today, the heat is being felt in the boardrooms.

Shanaka’s elevation never quite passed the straight-face test. He had been dropped for poor returns and since his comeback was scrapping to hold onto his place in the XI. To fast-track him to the captaincy was a gamble that has now backfired. The argument that he was “trustworthy” and “obedient” to the authorities hardly forms the blueprint of great leadership.

Sri Lanka’s finest skippers – Bandula Warnapura, Arjuna Ranatunga, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara – were never nodding puppets. They did not always see eye to eye with administrators, but strong leaders seldom do. That friction, at times, sharpened the blade rather than blunt it.

It was widely known that Shanaka’s tactical acumen would be tested under fire. What has startled many, even within his own establishment, is the decision to bowl first in a must-win clash against New Zealand, a call that raised eyebrows and in some quarters, questions about judgment and conviction. On surfaces where scoreboard pressure is king, Sri Lanka blinked first. You never bowl first at RPS. It’s always a bat first track.

The selectors, too, must front up over the late drama surrounding Dhananjaya de Silva’s inclusion on the eve of the tournament. It smacked of muddled thinking. When tried and tested policies are abandoned at the eleventh hour, you often end up padding up without a plan. An opportunity to back clarity and continuity was squandered.

To be fair, Sri Lanka Cricket faced a Hobson’s choice in appointing a chief selector, with few eager to walk into a thankless job. Yet stability might have served them better. Upul Tharanga had steadied the ship and deserved a longer rope rather than another shake up that unsettled the dressing room.

Finger pointing, however, will not mend broken campaigns. If the game we cherish is to thrive, solutions must replace soundbites. The recurring injury cloud is a glaring concern. This is not the first global event Wanindu Hasaranga has missed and as former captain Marvan Atapattu queried in these columns, should SLC rethink the volume of No Objection Certificates handed out for franchise leagues? You cannot flog your thoroughbreds year-round and expect them fresh for the big dance.

Playing spin has long been Sri Lanka’s Achilles heel. The emergence of Pavan Rathnayake has offered a glimmer of hope, his nimble footwork and soft hands suggesting a player cut from sturdier cloth. But one swallow does not make a summer. The talent pool must be widened and deepened.

Then there is the Lanka Premier League, a tournament that has promised much but delivered in fits and starts. Constant ownership changes and questionable investors have left it looking like a ship without a steady captain. SLC cannot have their cake and eat it. If the LPL is merely a cash cow, the national side will pay the price. If it is to be a genuine pathway to the Sri Lanka cap, then profits may need trimming in favour of purpose. The bigger picture is preparing cricketers hardened enough for the global arena.

Finally, the idea of a fully-fledged Cricket Academy deserves some thinking. Former cricket chief Hemaka Amarasuriya was keen on such a venture, not merely to polish cover drives and yorkers, but to mould character. Cricketing education must extend beyond the boundary rope. Discipline, resilience and decision-making are as vital as strike rates and economy figures.

by Rex Clementine

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Can West Indies make up for bowling gulf in virtual quarter-final against India?

Published

8 hours ago

2026/03/1

Priyan

Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma prepare for India's match against West Indies [Cricinfo]

This fixture was, of course, known in advance, but the stakes are somewhat surprising. Neither was it expected that India could be knocked out of their own party if they lose to West Indies nor was it expected that West Indies could go to the semi-finals if they win this match.

The expected result still is for India to overcome that one blip against South Africa and make it to the semi-finals. Then again, jeopardy and unpredictability are at the heart of this format.

The path to get here has been similar for both teams: a thumping loss to South Africa and a resounding win over Zimbabwe. Even their scores against Zimbabwe were nearly identical.

West Indies are one team India haven’t faced in their dominant run starting with the 2024 T20 World Cup. They are, in fact, the last team to have beaten India in a series way back in August 2023.

Both sides have improved since then. India are a well-oiled domination machine, West Indies have put together scary six-hitters who have happened to hit form. They have hit more sixes than any side at any T20 World Cup, and India are three behind them with 63 so far.

It is with the ball that India hold an advantage. India’s bowlers are match-winners. They have pace and mystery. It gives them room for error. West Indies are a strictly defensive bowling unit. They’ll need everything to go their way to get the better of India.

He might have taken just 26 balls to get there against Zimbabwe, but it was Abhishek Sharma’s second-slowest fifty in T20Is. That’s because he had scored just 15 runs in the first four matches, which made him take his time against offspin, scoring just 13 off 17 balls against that style of bowling. That makes Roston Chase an important player even though he went for 46 against South Africa. He is the only spinner in the West Indies squad who takes his stock ball away from left-hand batters; India have five of them in their top eight.

Rinku Singh lost his father after the match against Zimbabwe, which he missed with India bringing in Sanju Samson to break up the left-hand batters in the top order. He is expected to join the squad on Saturday night but isn’t expected to play.

India (probable): Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy.

Brandon King, who had sustained an injury against South Africa, is fit and available, which should suggest no changes for West Indies.

West Indies (probable): Brandon King, Shai Hope (capt & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph.

[Cricinfo]

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South Africa put spotless record on the line in all-African clash

Published

9 hours ago

2026/03/1

Priyan

Corbin Bosch has been sensational in the death [Cricinfo]

South Africa have had a near-perfect tournament so far. Fifty games in, they are the only unbeaten side in this 20-team T20 World Cup and are poised to enter the semi-finals with a spotless record. On Sunday, Aiden Markram’s men will meet their neighbours Zimbabwe, who last beat South Africa in international cricket way back in 2000. Overall, Zimbabwe have beaten South Africa just twice in 58 completed international matches.

Apart from history, the conditions and recent form are also against Zimbabwe. After toppling Australia and Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe have struggled across the board in India. Having suffered back-to-back defeats on flatter pitches at the Wankhede and Chepauk, Zimbabwe were knocked out of contention for the semi-finals.

Their bowlers conceded back-to-back 250-plus totals against West Indies and India. The indiscipline has seeped into their fielding as well: after dropping just one catch in the group stage, Zimbabwe have shelled at least five chances in two matches in the Super Eight. Yet they have had plenty of reasons to celebrate, including avoiding going through the qualifiers for the 2028 T20 World Cup.

South Africa may rest some of their key players as they did earlier in another dead rubber against UAE in Delhi.

A late bloomer in international cricket, allrounder Corbin Bosch has barely been needed with the bat in this competition, but has been South Africa’s go-to bowler in the death overs. He has bowled 54 balls between overs 16 and 20, conceding just 56 runs while taking three wickets. Lungi Ngidi’s variations have grabbed the headlines, but Bosch has certainly played his part with variations of his own, especially the yorker.

Brad Evans also has a good slower ball in his repertoire, but didn’t find grip at Wankhede or Chepauk. His slower ones slid onto the bat, making it easier for batters to line him up. Can he find a way to be more potent in these conditions and sign off on a high?

With not much riding on this fixture, South Africa may empty their bench again and keep some of their first-choice players fresh for the knockouts. Jason Smith, Kwena Maphaka, George Linde and Anrich Nortje all could add to their caps.

South Africa (probable): Aiden Markram (capt), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Jason Smith/David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen/Kwena Maphaka, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj/George Linde, Lungi Ngidi/Anrich Nortje

The presence of four left-handers in South Africa’s top seven may keep left-arm fingerspinner Wellington Masakadza on the bench. Zimbabwe, though, may consider bringing wristspinner Graeme Cremer back in place of medium-pacer Tinotenda Maposa.

Zimbabwe (probable): Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (capt), Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava

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Farhan and Fakhar get the win but not the semi-final spot for Pakistan

Published

15 hours ago

2026/02/28

Priyan

Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan had a good time in the middle [Cricinfo]

Sahibzada Farhan’s record-breaking hundred and Fakhar Zaman’s blazing 84 off 42 balls gave Pakistan a five-run win over Sti Lanka in Pallekele but it wasn’t enough to put them in the T20 World Cup semi-finals. It was New Zealand who became the second team from Group 2 to qualify for the knockouts.

After being sent in, Pakistan needed to win by about 65 runs to qualify, and for a large part of their innings, they were in business. Having made three changes – Babar Azam, Saim Ayub and Salman Mirza made way for Khawaja Nafay, Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed – they opened the innings with Fakhar and Farhan, and the two added 176 in 15.5 overs. It was the highest partnership for any wicket in T20 World Cups, bettering Finn Allen and Tim Seifert’s unbroken 175 against UAE from a few days ago.

Farhan’s hundred was his second of the tournament. No one else has made more than one in a single edition of the T20 World Cup. En route, he also broke Virat Kohli’s record for the most runs in a T20 World Cup. Kohli had scored 319 in 2014; Farhan finished on 383.

After the massive opening stand, Pakistan looked set for 220-plus. But the last four overs brought only 35 runs at the loss of seven wickets. As a result, they could post only 212 for 8, and needed to restrict Sri Lanka to 147 or below.

Despite Abrar’s three-for, Sri Lanka breached that mark in the 16th over. But Dasun Shanak wasn’t satisfied with just that. He wanted to win. When Shaheen Shah Afridi came on to bowl the final over, Sri Lanka needed 28. Shanaka started with 4, 6, 6, 6 to make it six required from two. Afridi went way outside off to beat a reverse scoop. Now it was six off one. Afridi tried to hide the ball again. Shanaka left it expecting a wide. It was extremely tight, but the umpire decided the delivery was legal and the game ended in total anti-climax.

Farhan and Fakhar showed positive intent right from the start. Facing his second ball, Fakhar stepped out and slogged Dilshan Madushanka through midwicket for four. From the other end, Farhan steered Dushmantha Chameera through cover-point before launching Madushanka for a four and a six in the third over. The pair took Pakistan to 64 for 0 at the end of the powerplay.

Even after the powerplay, the duo kept finding the boundary. The 11th over was the first and only boundary-less over of the innings. By then, Pakistan had crossed 100 and Farhan had brought up his fifty. Fakhar got to his in the following over, off 27 balls – five fewer than Farhan.

Sri Lanka were also let down by their fielders. Dunith Wellalage dropped Farhan on 75. Janith Liyanage caught him on 76 but stepped onto the boundary cushion. Chameera eventually broke through in the 16th over when he had Fakhar dragging a wide delivery onto his stumps. Farhan brought up his hundred off 59 balls but Pakistan kept losing wickets at the death in search of quick runs, which didn’t come.

Playing his first match of the World Cup, Naseem needed only three balls to pick up his first wicket. With Pathum Nissanka backing away early, he slipped in a back-of-the-hand slower ball, full and wide outside off. Nissanka reached for it but could only lob it towards extra cover where Mohammad Nawaz back-pedalled to complete the catch. Kamil Mishara was steering the chase single-handedly, but Abrar bowled him in the fifth over for 26 off 15. Then, Charith Asalanka and Pavan Rathnayake took Naseem for 12 in the sixth over to finish the powerplay on 49 for 2.

Asalanka and Rathnayake took Sri Lanka to 75 in the ninth over before Abrar struck again. He beat Asalanka’s slog sweep and bowled him. With the final ball of his spell, he sent back Kamindu Mendis too. When Mohammad Nawaz castled Liyanage, leaving Sri Lanka 101 for 5, Pakistan’s hopes were renewed. But Rathnayake and Shanaka crushed them with a flurry of sixes. In the space of ten balls, the pair hit four sixes and a four. Rathnayake brought up his fifty off 32 balls, and when Shanaka picked up a single off Tariq to take Sri Lanka to 148, Pakistan were knocked out.

Sri Lanka needed 53 from four overs. Shanaka started the 17th with a six off Naseem but Afridi gave away only six in the 18th and also removed Rathnayake. But Shanaka refused to give up. With 46 required from 12 balls, he took Shadab for two sixes in the 19th and then tore into Afridi. The way he was batting, Sri Lanka appeared to be the favourites with six needed from two balls.

On the penultimate delivery, Shanaka shaped up for a paddle sweep. But the ball was well wide outside off stump. Shanaka tried to go reverse last minute but couldn’t connect. For the final ball, Afridi once again went full and wide. Shanaka left it alone, expecting it to be given a wide. On most days, the decision would have been in his favour, but tonight the umpire remained unmoved, leaving him on 76 not out off 31 and Sri Lanka agonisingly close to their target.

Brief scores:
Pakistan 212 for 8 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 100, Fakhar Zaman 84, Dilshan Madushanka 3-33, Dushmantha Chameera 1-48, Dasun Shanak 2-42) beat Sri Lanka 207 for 6 in 20 overs (Kamil Mishara 26, Charith Asalanka 25, Dasun Shanaka 76*, Pavan Rathnayake 58; Shaheen Shah Afridi 1-48, Naseem Shah 1-36, Abrar Ahmed 3-23, Mohammad Nawaz 1-21) by five runs

[Cricinfo]