Sports

Are the selectors scared of Bhanuka Rajapaksa?

Published

5 years ago

2021/09/19

by Rex Clementine

With sheer pace and skill Kagiso Rabada cut the big talking Bhanuka Rajapaksa to size. Bhanuka had made us all believe that the entire cricketing fraternity was against him and that he wasn’t getting a fair deal. Bhanuka can not walk the talk. The whole nation watched it live. Mickey Arthur was spot on in assessing him. Bhanuka is a lazy, overhyped; sloppy cricketer who is not just had troubles with the Sri Lankan team management but even his own club; BRC.

In this series against South Africa Bhanuka got three ducks in a row. He should have been axed but the selectors persevered with him.

Well, you can understand the selectors’ dilemma. Bhanuka has met their fitness criteria, he is one of the few players who can clear the boundary and more importantly he has a powerful social media network. So the selectors have all the reasons to be scared of him and preserve with him.

But at the same time what wrong has Avishka Fernando done? For Bhanuka to be continued after scoring three successive ducks and Avishka to be axed three innings after he had scored a hundred doesn’t make sense. Bhanuka will turn 30 next month. Avishka is 23. He certainly is the future. You are willing to give the long rope to Bhanuka, but you are not prepared to do the same to Avishka.

Then there is this ridiculous argument put across that Avishka’s numbers in T-20 cricket are not that spectacular although he has done exceptionally well in ODIs. Is that so? Then how come you give Bhanuka a place in the ODI side having initially brought him to the T-20 team? There can be only two reasons. Either the selectors are scared of Bhanuka or they have got no clue.

When Pramodaya Wickramasinghe axed a whole bunch of seniors promising to rebuild he created the image of a tough guy who will not take any nonsense. Four months later, he has been taken for a ride by an average First Class cricketer who can not pass a simple fitness test on the first time.

The press has so many questions to ask Pramodaya, but he has avoided the media like the plague. If you think that in these days of the pandemic there’s no room for media briefings, let us tell you that SLC has a vibrant media unit that has conducted over 100 media briefings virtually since the pandemic restricted movements.

Pramodaya has to come out and explain his policies. At the moment it looks as if the he is groping in the dark.

For the last World Cup in the UK, we entered uncharted territories rather than going with the flow. Swimming against the current seems to be the trend in our backyard as we fielded half a dozen players who had at least not played an ODI in more than a year. Remember Eoin Morgan’s tongue in cheek comment that Sri Lanka were the surprises package in the World Cup. You reckon something similar is in store this time around too. Teams put out their best outfits for World Cups after years of planning. Sri Lanka are taking a bunch of rookies. Half of the team picked for the World Cup have played less than a handful of T-20 Internationals and that is recipe for disaster.

Dimuth Karunaratne was one guy who was doing a decent job as one-day captain. What was the mighty hurry in sacking him? What wrong had he done? Then you get someone who has not even captained his school to lead the side. The trial with Kusal Perera lasted just one month. Then the job is handed to Dasun Shanka who is not sure of his place in the ODI side. The selectors have run out of options. There are no more leaders to be given the job. The game is at its lowest ebb.

We can not afford to have a bunch of amateurs doing selections. We need professionals and people who are well respected in the game to do one of sport’s toughest tasks.

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Sports

Samash smashes century as Joes post 354

Published

4 hours ago

2026/04/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

Aveesha Samash (Picture credit ThePapare)

Open batsman Aveesha Samash produced a superb century to power St. Joseph’s College to a commanding first-day total against Prince of Wales College in their Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ semi-final encounter at the D.H.H. Ground, Madampella on Monday.

‎Samash top scored with a brilliant 122 runs, striking 14 fours and three sixes, as the Josephians piled up an imposing 354 in their first innings.

‎Asked to take first lease of the wicket, St. Joseph’s suffered an early setback, losing two wickets for just 16 runs. However, Samash steadied the innings with a crucial third wicket partnership alongside Pamoda Dalpadado. The pair added a valuable 173 runs to turn the match in favour of the Josephians.

‎Batting for more than thirty overs together, Samash played the aggressor’s role while Dalpadado provided steady support, ensuring the Joes rebuilt strongly and maintained control of the contest. Dalpadado contributed a well-compiled 64 before being caught by Rusandu Silva off the bowling of Oshan Maneesha, who emerged as the pick of the Prince of Wales bowlers.

‎Samash continued his fluent innings to reach a well-deserved century before being dismissed after laying a solid platform for his side.

‎Following their departures, Chethina Kavinda added a useful 34 while Nushan Perera accelerated the scoring with an entertaining 60 off 68 balls, which included nine boundaries and a six, helping the Josephians reach their formidable total of 354.

‎For Prince of Wales, Oshan Maneesha led the bowling effort with good support from Nethul Anuhas and Rusandu Silva, who claimed two wickets each.

‎At stumps on the opening day, the Cambrians safely negotiated one over each from Nushan Perera and Vishwa Peiris without losing a wicket, beginning their reply cautiously.

‎‎Scores:

‎St. Joseph’s 354 all out in 78.3 overs (Aveesha Samash 122, Pamoda Dalpadado 64, Nushan Perera 60, Chethina Kavinda 34; Oshan Maneesha 4/91, Nethul Anuhas 2/83, Rusandu Silva 2/39).

‎Prince of Wales

3 for no loss in 2 overs. (RF)

Sports

Sri Lanka make winning start at ITF Development Championship

Published

4 hours ago

2026/04/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sri Lanka made an impressive start on the opening day of the ITF Asia Under-14 Development Championship finals as five local players recorded victories at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts on Monday.

The tournament, which will run until April 19, features young tennis talent from fourteen Asian nations competing for honours. Teams from Hong Kong, India, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Nepal, Myanmar, Syria, Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan, Thailand and hosts Sri Lanka are taking part in the championship.

Sri Lanka’s girls produced a strong showing in the first round with three convincing victories. Navya Banagala delivered a dominant performance to defeat Leisan Laksova of Kazakhstan 6-1, 6-0. Sahansa Damsiluni also impressed as she overcame M. Akramov of Uzbekistan 6-4, 6-2. Dinethma Ekanayake completed the successful outing for the girls with a comfortable 6-0, 6-2 win against Vin Miyo Aye of Myanmar.

In the boys’ competition, Buvindu Jayawardhne fought back strongly after losing the first set to beat Nepal’s Bishwo Dallakot 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. Chirath Subasinghe added another victory for the hosts with a convincing 6-4, 6-0 win over Aung Zay of Myanmar.

With five players progressing after the opening round, Sri Lanka enjoyed a promising start to the championship as the young national hopefuls look to make their mark against some of Asia’s emerging tennis talent.

Sports

Over hundred players expected at National Billiards Championship

Published

4 hours ago

2026/04/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

Dhammika Attygalle – President AAC handing over a replica cheque to Niranjan Abeyasena, Secretary Billiards and Snooker Association of Sri Lanka. Also in the picture from left are Anton Kandiah, Billiards Secretary, Devapriya Hettiarachchi, Secretary, Kumara Lanerolle, Sectional Chairman Billiards all of AAC & Sarath Jayalal, B & S ASL.

Arrangements have been made to conduct the 71st National Billiards Championship 2026 sponsored by Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC) and conducted by the Billiards & Snooker Association of Sri Lanka.

‎It is the fourth consecutive year that the sponsors have come forward to bear the cost of the championship.

‎The organisers envisage that there will be around 100 players taking part from around the country. The Championship will constitute of three segments, namely, district, the all Island and finally the national segment.

The 16 seeded players who played the Nationals last year will play for laurels this year too. In addition, the All Island level matches will comprise the players relegated from the last year Nationals and players who will be selected from the districts at this year’s tournament.

‎The matches will be played at the billiards parlor of the Association and the final matches will take place at the Automobile Association of Ceylon tables.

‎Affiliated clubs from the entire country are entitled ti enter for this year’s tournament. Most of the entries are expected from the tri forces players.

‎The proud record that billiards have established in the country dates back to 1973 where M J M Lafir annexed the World ‘s Billiards Championship played in India.