Sports
Afghanistan’s Uncle – Nephew Partnership
by Rex Clementine
In politics we have seen uncles and nephews batting together. Here we have a political party too that is famous for uncles promoting nephews. If you notice the one off Test between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan at SSC this week, the opposition’s opening batters had the same surname – Ibrahim Zadran and Noor Ali Zadran. They are uncle and nephew.
Ibrahim, is a sort of veteran in Afghan cricket although he is only 22-years-old. He has featured in his nation’s six of the eight Test matches. He is the nephew. Noor Ali was making his debut and he is 35-years-old. He is the uncle.
Isn’t it strange. For a 35-year-old to make his debut and the first Test cap to be handed over by the nephew. But that is what happened at SSC at the start of the Test match. This is a funny game we told you.
So how did the uncle and nephew fare? Pretty well actually although Afghanistan lost by ten wickets.
Noor Ali is a solid opener playing the waiting game willing to bat deep. His game though is limited. Which is why it has taken him so long to make a look in. Gusty cricketer though. Ibrahim will go onto become one of the greats of the game going by the early signs. He is a treat to watch with a tight defence and attacking instinct pouncing on the loose balls.
Ibrahim has already gone onto become a sensation in limited overs cricket. He posted his maiden Test hundred at SSC.
Noor Ali scored 31 and 47 in the Test. The uncle and nephew added 106 runs for the first wicket in the second innings, a new record for Afghanistan in Test match cricket.
Uncle and nephew representing the same team is something extremely rare leave alone in Test cricket but even First-Class cricket. One occasion that you can recall is Joe Denly being joined by Jayden Denly in English County Cricket. They were playing for Kent.
Afghanistan Head Coach Jonathan Trott applauded Ibrahim’s efforts.
“Ibrahim spent the whole day in the field and then fielded in the morning on the third day of a Test with humidity and the temperature close to 40 degrees. But then also the mental strength it takes as well – getting nought in the first innings, and then being able to field for 100-plus overs, and then being able to spend the amount of time he did at the crease is credit to him as a youngster.”
“It’s a good example for the rest of the players of Afghanistan – the standards of Test cricket, and the fitness you need to call upon. The way that he trains is second to none, and he’s a great ambassador for the game, and the country,” Trott added.
The teams will now move to Kandy for the ODI series. Watch out for the nephew. This could be another Virat Kohli in the making.
Under 19 Cricket
Left-arm spinners Vishwa Peiris and Demion de Silva took five wickets each as St. Joseph’s cruised to an innings and 51 runs victory over St. Benedict’s in the Traditional Mack – Croner trophy cricket encounter at Darley Road on Tuesday.
St. Benedict’s came to the match having done well in the Tier B tournament matches but the spin might of the Joes was too hot for them to handle as they collapsed for 62 runs in the second innings.
The result somewhat exposed the gap between the Tier A and Tier B teams of the Under 19 Division I category as the team from Kotahena were bowled out within 25 overs. They were following on after being dismissed for 197 runs in the first innings, where Nushan Perera grabbed five wickets bowling the bulk of the overs for the Joes. He was adjudged the Best Bowler.
While Vishwa was the Man of the Match, Rishma Amarasinghe (Best Fielder) and Senuja Wakunugoda (Best Batsman) won the other individual awards.
The Joes made 313 in their innings with Senuja top scoring with 106 runs.
In the Division I Tier ‘A’ matches Gurukula (against St. Sebastian’s) and St. Anthony’s Katugastota (against Royal) registered first innings victories.
Maliyadeva took first innings points against De Mazenod in a tier B match.
(RF)
Organisers of the ICC T20 World Cup are sweating over after Pakistan refused to play nuclear-armed neighbours India in Colombo, a decision that has left administrators scratching their heads and staring at a potential financial googly.
The India–Pakistan contest, the jewel in the tournament’s crown, is the game that oils cricket’s economic engine. If the marquee clash is bowled out, the loss of revenue will have every stakeholder feeling the pinch from boardroom to boundary rope. Islamabad’s call to withdraw, taken at government level, has sparked fears the verdict will not be overturned.
Anticipation for the grudge match had reached fever pitch. Tickets vanished on day one of sales, while Colombo’s hotels were snapped up quickly. Five-star rooms that normally fetch 150 US dollars were hiked to 600 USD, some even soaring to 800 USD as the city braced for a carnival.
With the capital full to the rafters, tour operators shuttled visitors to nearby Negombo, an hour’s drive from the stadium, while others opted for apartments as accommodation ran dry. Flights, too, were booked well in advance, but uncertainty over the epic duel has now cast a long shadow.
“We haven’t had many cancellations yet, but we fear the worst. Everyone will take a hit if the game doesn’t take place,” aviation industry official Thusitha Perera told Telecom Asia Sport.
Gihan Wickramasinghe, representing Colombo’s hoteliers, echoed the concern. “Our hope is the match goes ahead. If not, we’ll have to refund bookings and the tour operators will be hit even harder.”
Tour operator Lisa Fernando said the anxiety was mounting. “Two groups from Dubai alone, 75 people, were coming. Corporate clients had planned trips down south as well. There’s a lot of money at stake and so much unnecessary stress.”
Indian fan Varun Kumar from Bangalore has already paid for flights and hotels but intends to travel regardless. “Sri Lanka has been on my bucket list. Whether the match happens or not, we’ll come to experience the country,” he said.
Sri Lanka Cricket remains optimistic the contest will be rescued before the final over is called. But if the showpiece is scratched, it would be a hammer blow to an economy only just finding its feet after years of setbacks, leaving the tournament badly caught behind.
SSC Open Tennis Championship 2026
Zacharia Akbar and Thishya Banagala were crowned champions in the Under 12 boys’ and girls’ singles respectively of the SSC Open Tennis Championships in Colombo.
In the boys final, Zacharia Akbar beat Kashya Seneviratne 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. The S.Thomas’ College player reached the finals with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Satheesh Appathuri in the semi-finals.
The Under 12 girls’ final saw Thishya Banagala beat Thiyansa de Silva 7-5, 6-2.
The Visakha Vidyalaya player reached the final after a 6-4, 6-4 win over Manuli Seneviratne in the semis.
Zacharia Akbar (Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)
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