Sports
A record 84 teams to compete at Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024
Blockbuster tournament kicks off on June 14
In its commitment to nurturing budding sports talents and fostering future champions, Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider, is once again fueling the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024. A record 84 school teams will compete across three divisions, setting a new benchmark in the history of the Schools Rugby League. The increased number of schools is a result of Dialog’s continued efforts in supporting Schools Rugby over the past years, including initiatives such as development tournaments. The much-awaited season will kick off with the Division 1 Segment A clash on 14th June at Havelock Grounds.
As the principal sponsor, Dialog Axiata PLC has made arrangements to live broadcast the tournament on Dialog Television – ThePapare TV (channel number 63), ThePapare TV HD (channel number 126), Dialog ViU, and Thepapare.com, catering to the interests of current and former students, parents, supporters, well-wishers, and the rugby-loving community in Sri Lanka.
Sixteen schools will vie for the Division I Segment A title in the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024 and features defending champions St. Peter’s College, last year’s runners-up Royal College, along with Isipathana College, St. Joseph’s College, Trinity College, Wesley College, Vidyartha College, S. Thomas’ College, Science College, St Anthony’s College, Dharmaraja College, Kingswood College, D.S. Senanayake College, Zahira College, together with Thurstan College, Colombo, and Sumangala College, Kandy, who were promoted from Division 1 Segment B in the previous year’s competition. An additional 26 schools will compete in Division I Segment B and C, while 42 schools will participate in Division II (12 teams) and Division III (30 teams) of the Dialog Schools Rugby League, aiming to secure top positions in their respective groups.
In the previous season of the Dialog Schools Rugby League, the blue-ribbon competition in Sri Lanka schools’ rugby calendar, St. Peter’s College emerged as champions, triumphing in both the Dialog Schools Rugby League and the Dialog Schools Rugby K/O tournament by defeating Isipathana in both finals. St. Peter’s College, Isipathana College, Royal College, Colombo, St. Anthony’s College St. Joseph’s College, S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, and Trinity College, Kandy are expected to be strong contenders in this year’s tournament.
“This year’s league features the highest number of teams – 84, which is a significant achievement. The Dialog Schools Rugby League has shown remarkable growth over the years, and we extend our gratitude to our main sponsor Dialog Axiata for their support to SLSRFA, particularly in these challenging economic times” stated Kamal Ariyasinghe, President of the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA). “We look forward to an exciting tournament with all 84 teams vying for victory in their respective divisions.”
“In line with our steadfast commitment to powering the champions of tomorrow, we are pleased to partner with the Schools Rugby League, one of the most highly anticipated events in the school sports calendar,” remarked Lasantha Theverapperuma, Group Chief Marketing Officer at Dialog Axiata PLC. “We extend our best wishes to SLSRFA and all the participating schoolboys for the 2024 season.” Dialog Axiata PLC also made financial donations to over 70 schools, to enhance existing infrastructure facilities, and providing rugby kits.
“Engaging in extracurricular activities is crucial for developing children’s personalities and promoting healthy habits. We must commend the Sri Lanka Rugby School Union and its officials for organizing this event, which helps develop a generation of healthy individuals. We must also recognise the continuous support from Dialog Axiata PLC who has been a pillar of strength for the School Rugby Union by sponsoring this event,” said Minister of Education Dr. Susil Premajayantha.
“School rugby lays the foundation for national and international levels. Dialog Axiata PLC has been the main sponsor of the school rugby league since 2020, and their efforts in promoting the sport in the country are commendable. We must appreciate Dialog’s commitment to developing rugby in Sri Lanka,” added Sports Minister Harin Fernando.
Dialog Axiata is also a dedicated sponsor of the National Cricket, Volleyball, and Esports teams and the primary sponsor of the Sri Lanka Golf Open. The Company promotes diversity, equity and inclusion through sponsorships in Netball Federation of Sri Lanka and National Paralympic Committee to enable athletes to participate in national and international tournaments. Further, in line with its commitment towards empowering the champions of tomorrow, the company continues to power the President’s Gold Cup Volleyball, National Junior and Senior Netball tourneys, and School Rugby.
After two heartbreaks, it was third time lucky for Desert Vipers as they broke the final hoodoo, defeating MI Emirates by 46 runs to claim their maiden ILT20 title in Dubai.
The win was headlined by captain Sam Curran, who held the Vipers innings together with an unbeaten 74 off 51 balls. He was helped by Max Holden (41 off 32) and Dan Lawrence (23 off 15) as Vipers notched up an impressive 182 for 4 in their 20 overs.
MIE never got their chase going, losing wickets at regular intervals. Naseem Shah was at his fiery best, picking up 3 for 18 in his four overs, while Usman Tariq curbed the runs in the middle overs, returning 2 for 20. David Payne also picked up 3 for 42, all three of his wickets coming in an over, as MIE were bowled out for 136 in 18.3 overs. It was fitting that the most consistent team of the season took home the title.
Vipers’ win means that ILT20 has now had a different winner in each of the first four seasons – Gulf Giants, MIE, Dubai Capitals and now Vipers.
Fakhar Zaman didn’t take time to go after Shakib Al Hasan, depositing him over wide long-on second ball of the innings. MIE were sloppy with their fielding, and both Fakhar and Jason Roy cashed in. After Fakhar collected a boundary off first ball off AM Ghazanfar, Roy hit left-arm quick Muhammad Rohid for back-to-back fours as Vipers raced to 34 for 0 after three overs. But Fazalhaq Farooqi helped MIE hit back with a double-wicket opening over.
Roy first flat-batted a short-of-a-length delivery straight to short midwicket before Farooqi cleaned up Fakhar with a peach of an inducker that pitched just outside off and swung back in breaching the opener’s defenses. Curran took five balls to get off the mark but closed out the powerplay in style with three straight fours off Farooqi as Vipers reached 59 for 2 in six overs.
While Holden took his time to settle, Curran kept the scorecard ticking. He pulled offspinner Tajinder Singh twice through midwicket before guiding Kieron Pollard past short third. Holden, going just about a run-a-ball, found his groove as well as he took Tajinder inside out over covers and then planted him over long-on as Vipers raced past 100 in the 12th over.
Mystery spinner Arab Gul broke the 89-run third-wicket stand by accounting for Holden but Lawrence ensured the momentum wasn’t lost. He smoked Gul over covers second ball before Curran reached his fifty off 39 balls as Vipers eyed a late push. That came via a 21-run 18th over with Curran and Lawrence sending Romario Shepherd over the fence three times. Vipers collected 46 runs off the last four overs to breach the 180-mark.
Muhammad Waseem, MIE’s star of the ILT20, started the chase briskly. He clubbed Payne over deep midwicket, while Andre Fletcher sent fast bowler Khuzaima Tanveer straight down the ground for six. Though Fletcher fell, mistiming Naseem to deep midwicket, Waseem kept going. He pulled Naseem through midwicket and then edged Curran past the wicketkeeper. But a flurry of wickets dented MIE’s chase.
Naseem struck for the second time when his pacy indipper had Tom Banton’s bat turning in his hand for a simple catch to Curran at mid-on for 7. Tanveer then got the prized scalp of his countryman Waseem, who in a bid to steer the ball fine, could only manage a thick edge to the wicketkeeper as MIE stumbled to 46 for 3 in six overs. Tariq then got into the act, sending back Sanjay Krishnamurthi. Having managed just 2 off 8, Krishnamurthi tried to pull Tariq over deep midwicket but could only manage a miscue and Hassan Nawaz completed a stunning diving catch low to his right.
With the required rate touching close to 11, it was down to the two experienced heads Shakib and Pollard to try and conjure some magic. They added 60 off 45 balls, but Vipers maintained their lines, not giving much away on a surface which had something for the bowlers throughout. With the required rate almost 14 at the start of the 16th over, Shakib tried to haul Tariq over long-on but failed to generate enough power with Tanveer doing the rest.
Pollard fell six balls later and with that went MIE’s chances of a second title. Payne picked up three wickets in an over before Tanveer closed the chase, sparking wild celebrations in the Vipers dugout. MIE lost their last six wickets for just 22 runs in 3.3 overs to go down in a heap.
Brief scores:
Desert Vipers 182 for 4 in 20 overs (Fakhar Zaman 20, Janson Roy 11, Sam Curran 74*, Max Holden 41, Dan Lawrence 23; Fazalhaq Farooqi 2-33, Arab Gul 1-14) beat MI Emirates 136 in 18.3 overs (Muhammed Waseem 26, Andre Fletcher 10, Shakib Al Hasan 36, Kieron Pollard 28, Tajinder Singh 12; Naseem Shah 3-18, Davi Payne 3-42, Khuzaima Tanveer 2-22, Usman Tariq 2-20) by 46 runs
(Cricinfo)
Sprinters Chamod Yodasinghe and Amasha de Silva claimed the 60m titles as the likes of Nimali Liyanarachchi and Lakshika Sugandi remained unchallenged in their respective pet events at the season opening National Short Track Championship held at the Sugathadasa Stadium 200metres track on Saturday.
Yodasinghe blazed to a 6.68 seconds finish to win the men’s 60 m final while Amasha clocked 7.55 seconds to win the women’s event after returning a time of 7.58 seconds in the heats. M.P.P. Silva and Meron Wijesinghe fiished second and third respectively in the men’s final.
In the absence of veterans Kalinga Kumarage and Anura Dharshana, Isuru Lakshan took the men’s 400 metres title in a time of 48.15 seconds, while emerging talent Kalhara Indupa finished second in a time of 49.24 seconds.
The corresponding women’s event was sans all top athletes and was won by WHM Fernando (58.97).
In the 60 metres hurdles Roshan Ranatunga (7.90secs) and veteran Lakahika Sugandi (8.69secs) were the undisputed champions.
The women’s 800 metres witnessed a close finish with veteran Nimali Liyanarachchi winning the contest in a time of 2:12.43 seconds. Ajantha Kumari (2:12.47) and Madushani Dilrukshi (2:12.85) finished second and third respectively.
Former Walala Central athlete Shehan Dilranga took the men’s 800 metres in a time of 1:52.49 seconds as experienced campaigners Harsha Karunaratne and Rusiru Chathuranga were conspicious by their absence. Pansilu Giridara (1:52.76) fiished a close second while Sanjaya Srinath finished third.
Madushani Herath had little competition in winning the women’s long lump (6.21m) and the triple jump (13.23m). A.P. Krishandan (7.50m) and Pasindu Malshan (16.11m) were the winners of the men’s long jump and triple jump respectively.
R.P. Gamage (women’s high jump – 1.71m), S.A.T Dasun (men’s high jump -2.13m), O.T. Chandrasekara (women’s shot put- 12.03m), Subeendrakumar Mithunraj (men’s shot put – 14.79m), R.A.D.H. Kumara (men’s 3000m – 8:50.50 secs) and Rasara Wijesuriya (women’s 3000m – 9:29.38 secs) were the winners of the other events.
by Reemus Fernando ✍️
Bangladesh will ask the ICC to relocate their T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka, after Kolkata Knight Riders were instructed to release Mustafizur Rahman as a result of deteriorating political ties between Bangladesh and India.
The BCB is expected to write to the ICC to raise their concerns about player safety in Kolkata, where Bangladesh are scheduled to play their first three matches of the World Cup next month.
Following the BCB’s emergency meeting of board directors over Zoom on Saturday, the media committee chairman Amzad Hussain told ESPNcricinfo: “We have three matches of the T20 World Cup in Kolkata, so we will write to the ICC regarding what has happened today.”
Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Nazrul said that he has doubts about the team’s safety in India, after the BCCI cited “recent developments” in their explanation for Mustafizur’s removal from the IPL, adding that he will instruct the BCB to write to the ICC about moving their matches to Sri Lanka.
“I have asked the BCB to explain the entire matter to the ICC,” Nazrul wrote on his official Facebook page. “The board should inform that where a Bangladeshi cricketer cannot play in India despite being contracted, the entire Bangladeshi cricket team cannot feel safe going to play in the World Cup. I have also instructed the Board to request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka.”
Nazrul added that he has requested the country’s information and broadcasting ministry to stop showing the IPL in Bangladesh.
Following the BCCI’s instructions, KKR confirmed that they have released Mustafizur from their squad for the 2026 IPL. KKR had acquired the left-arm fast bowler’s services for 9.2 crore in the IPL auction last month, though they faced a backlash for their selection in the last few days from Indian spiritual and political leaders.
Interestingly, the BCB had announced their home schedule for 2026 on Friday, including white-ball matches against India, a series that was postponed from 2025.
Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches are scheduled to be held in Kolkata and Mumbai, with their opening fixture against West Indies at Eden Gardens on February 7.
[Cricinfo]
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