Sports
Bhanuka Rajapaksa outburst and possible repercussions
A frustrated fan’s viewpoint
by Aravinthan Arunthavanathan
Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s media outburst recently gave rise to polarizing views in cricketing circles. Whether it was warranted or not is a secondary issue, in fact it depends on the lens you chose to review his views, but for a common fan it is so disheartening to see a player of that caliber and talent being forced to vent his frustration in public.
My first memory of Bhanuka was in New Zealand in the 2010 Under-19 World Cup. As Bhanuka was dominating a minnow attack, the commentator was saying “He is showing that he is a brilliant player against mediocre attacks, it is interesting to see how he fares against the big boys”.
Fast forward to 2019 on a dewy night in Lahore, the same Bhanuka jumps down the track, gets inside the line of a 140 plus Wahab Riaz thunderbolt and smacks it over cover for an extravagant six intertwined with nonchalant elegance. If one had gone into oblivion and returned almost a decade later since seeing Bhanuka as a schoolboy cricketer, fair chance is that he would have thought by now Bhanuka was a superstar on World stage. His skill on that tour was such that one would find it hard to believe that he was just playing his first international series. How such a talent did not get a chance shall not be an enigma for anyone who understands the peculiar ways in which Sri Lankan cricket works. At times comprehending the fuel pricing formula and travel restrictions are cakewalks compared to decoding selection policies. While a lot has been heard and read about Bhanuka one thing is clear, he seems to be one who does not mince his words. His views and opinion are so strong and polarized, that at times it almost projects him as an entitled personality finding fault with everyone else but himself.
But imagine being asked to bat out of position in immediate aftermath of having eviscerated the number one bowling attack in the world in one series, and that too lower down the order after a solitary failure. Imagine being asked to forego franchise commitments, losing out on big money only to be thrown out of the squad without a reason. Imagine the commitment being questioned and labeled as sloppy for carrying the gloves while running, that too after almost pulling off a domestic T20 final single handedly with a hamstring injury. Bhanuka Rajapaksa unfortunately has endured it all. Life has certainly been unfair on Bhanuka in his own words and by anyone’s standards.
Before we judge and let the jury out on whether Bhanuka’s recent media outbursts were warranted or not, one must empathize with the agony he must have endured. There could be many others in the same boat. Angelo Perera not many fans’ favourite also had echoed the same thoughts regarding selection policies in a recent interview on a sports program. If you are good enough to be selected, you at least need to be told where you fit in the scheme of things and why you are dropped from the side. Anybody who has worn the national cap deserves that courtesy. It is not an add on feature but a necessity in managing a team. While the new selection committee has shown an inclination towards an inclusive and transparent environment it’s yet to be seen how consistent it would be.
To make matters complicated for Bhanuka the recently introduced fitness standards seem to make him a nonstarter in the race to selection. A stringent selection criterion is essential in the long run to lift the lackluster standards ailing the game. But there would always be exceptions based on the genetics. If at all if that is a valid reason it should be factored in properly. Lasith Malinga recently went on record stating after his foot injury he had to prove his fitness through bowling and no other means. While a uniform scale is an essential there should be secondary mechanisms which are validated to ensure the best talent is not left out due to rigid policies.
It looks like unfair to see a player of Bhanuka’ caliber being kept out of the squad. But change is difficult. There will be casualties for greater good. Bhanuka having ended on the wrong side of the tide seems to be ending up on the wrong end again. He may not play for Sri Lanka anytime soon after his recent outbursts and probably may not never ever wear the national Jersey.
But as a fan who was mesmerized by the 19-year-old back in 2010 and then again in Pakistan all one could hope is he goes onto play domestic leagues and scores truckloads of runs not knocking the door but bulldoze the door so that nobody can keep him out citing any reason.
Bhanuka seems to be that kid who is not happy with the system. It looks justifiable on surface. But history has shown those are the ones who go onto change the world. If Bhanuka turns out to be that person in Sri Lankan context it would be the ultimate high for any Sri Lankan fan and the fairy tale culmination to a career which never got what it deserved.
After all, as Saurav Ganguly recalls, when he was recalled to the Indian side under Greg Chappell after being ousted as skipper, he had to face a baptism of fire on the fiery venomous tracks of South Africa. He faced fire with fire and came out on top to find his place not only in Tests but also the World Cup squad in 2007 and bowed out in 2008 on a high. Only a few years before it seemed impossible. But history has shown nothing is impossible.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa has dished out a welcome, audacious stream of words which has created a stir. Now he would have to perform way more than what he would have had to prior to his outbursts. It will be interesting to see how he emerges out of this. But as a Sri Lankan fan all one could wish is that the nonchalance mixed with aggression in Bhanuka’s batting will be seen for years to come.
(This writer’s blogs can be found at “Cricketing Perspectives” on Facebook)
South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has served a one-month ban, commuted from three months, for drug use during the SA20 earlier this year.
A statement issued by the South African Institute for Drug Free Sports (SAIDS) confirmed Rabada had failed a doping test on January 21, after the match between MI Cape Town and Durban Super Giants, and he was notified of the result on April 1 when he was in India for IPl 2025. On April 3, his IPL franchise Gujarat Titans (GT) said Rabada had returned to South Africa for personal reasons after playing only two matches this season.
According to SAIDS, Rabada has since participated in an education and awareness programme to prevent further substance abuse. He can resume playing immediately and could return to action as soon as Tuesday, when GT play Mumbai Indians (MI).
Rabada’s sanction is in line with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) punishment for use of a recreational drug – including cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine or diamorphine. A similar punishment was handed to New Zealand’s Doug Bracewell last year after he tested positive for cocaine during the Super Smash.
However, there are instances of longer suspensions, which are up to individual boards. Last year, Zimbabwe’s Wessley Madhevere and Brandon Mavuta were banned from playing for four months each and fined 50% of their salaries for three months after testing positive for a recreational drug. In that instance, Zimbabwe Cricket chose to impose a sanction longer than the WADA recommendations.
It is not expected that Cricket South Africa will impose further punishment on Rabada after it issued a statement on Saturday afternoon calling the incident “regrettable”. CSA is satisfied with Rabada’s “commitment to upholding professional standards” after he apologised through the South African Cricketers’ Association when news of his positive drug test broke at the weekend.
“I am deeply sorry to all those that I have let down,” Rabada said. “I will never take the privilege of playing cricket for granted. This privilege is much larger than me. It goes beyond my personal aspirations.”
With the matter considered closed, Rabada will be available for South Africa for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia next month, where he is crucial to their chances. Rabada was South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in the 2023-2025 WTC cycle with 47 wickets at an average of 19.97.
However, not everyone considers the case to be as open and shut as CSA.
Speaking to SEN Radio, former Australia captain Tim Payne was critical of the statement initially issued by GT to explain Rabada’s absence from the IPL.
“It stinks. I don’t like this use around ‘personal issues’, and it being used to hide stuff that isn’t a personal issue,” Paine told SEN Radio on Monday. “If you have a professional sportsman that’s tested for recreational drugs during a tournament in which he is playing, that doesn’t fall under personal issues for me. That falls under you have broken your contract.
“That is not a personal issue, that is something that is happening in your personal life. Taking drugs – recreational or performance enhancing – is not a personal issue that can just be hidden for a month. A guy can be taken out of the IPL, moved back to South Africa, and we just let it slide under the rug. Then we will bring him back once he’s already served his ban.”
ESPNcricinfo contacted CSA and SACA officials multiple times after Rabada returned home from the IPL and were told he was dealing with a “personal issue”, while some officials claimed not to know anything about why he had come home.
The mighty haka echoed through the hills of Kandy as New Zealand’s Under-85 kg rugby team, a touring side from the land of the long white cloud, stamped their authority on Sri Lankan soil with a dominant 50–10 win in Nittawela. But the scoreline tells only half the story – this was a watershed moment for Sri Lankan rugby.
The clash marked the first leg of a groundbreaking two-match series, the first time a representative New Zealand rugby team has toured Sri Lanka. With a packed crowd and palpable buzz at Nittawela Stadium, the significance was not lost – this was more than a game; it was a celebration of rugby’s unifying power.
New Zealand’s precision, pace, and structure were evident from the kickoff. The visitors rolled through their phases like a well-oiled machine, opening the scoring through No. 8 Pasia Asiata and converting with aplomb. But what followed was more than just a try-fest – it was a masterclass in running rugby, with blistering counterattacks, clinical support lines, and seamless offloads lighting up the hill capital.
Sri Lanka, buoyed by home support, did have their moments. A well-executed rolling maul saw Dahan Wickramarachchi crash over, and veteran Nigel Ratwatte added five points off the tee. But for every local spark, the Kiwis had a storm brewing – Francis Morrison, Jarred Percival, and Eamon Reily led the charge as the men in black ran in tries with ruthless efficiency.
For Sri Lanka, the learning curve was steep, but the occasion was priceless. Hosting a side steeped in All Blacks culture, known for innovation and intensity, offers invaluable exposure and inspiration. This wasn’t just a rugby lesson – it was a statement that Sri Lanka belongs on the global rugby map.
As the teams gear up for the second leg, the scoreboard may favour the visitors, but the spotlight is firmly on Sri Lanka’s ambition. If the Tuskers can take heart and harness the experience, the long-term gain could far outweigh the immediate result.
Rugby fans across the island will be hoping this is just the beginning of more global giants setting foot on Sri Lankan turf.
by Carlos Van de Berg
Sri Lanka’s white-ball resurgence over the past 12 months has seen them punch above their weight and rise to fourth in the ICC rankings – a stunning turnaround for a side that not too long ago was scraping the bottom of the barrel.
Having missed out on qualification for this year’s Champions Trophy – finishing ninth at the cut-off and watching the bus leave without them – Sri Lanka have since tightened their shoelaces and hit the ground running. According to the ICC’s latest rankings update released in early May, Sri Lanka leapfrogged up the table thanks to landmark series wins against top-ranked India and reigning world champions Australia.
It’s been a remarkable comeback – like a team that once couldn’t buy a win now playing like seasoned campaigners. Credit must go to Sanath Jayasuriya, the swashbuckling former skipper who took over as Head Coach and made his intentions clear from ball one: raise the bar across all formats. From demanding peak fitness to lifting fielding standards out of the doldrums, Jayasuriya has instilled a no-nonsense culture, and the results are there for all to see.
Several players have raised their game, stepping up to the crease when the team needed it most. Pathum Nissanka blazed his name into the record books with the first-ever double hundred by a Sri Lankan in ODIs, while skipper Charith Asalanka became the rock in the middle order, often pulling the team out of the fire with match-winning knocks.
Maheesh Theekshana has spun a web around opponents to top the bowling charts, claiming the number one spot in ODIs. Meanwhile, Wanindu Hasaranga continues to be Sri Lanka’s golden goose – topping the all-rounder rankings and being hot property across franchise leagues worldwide.
In the T20 arena, the islanders have also upped the ante, climbing to seventh in the rankings and leaving Asian rivals Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan in their slipstream. Once champions of the shortest format, Sri Lanka now look like a team finding their groove again.
In Tests, too, there’s steady progress, with the team now placed sixth – a sign that the rebuilding phase is finally bearing fruit.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has rolled out the itinerary for the upcoming home series against Bangladesh. The bilateral contest kicks off with two Tests, the first at the picturesque Galle International Stadium from June 17, followed by the second Test at SSC starting June 25.
The ODI leg begins in Colombo on July 2, with the capital hosting the first two matches. The series then moves to Pallekele for the final one-dayer.
Kandy will set the stage for the opening T20I, before the caravan heads to Dambulla for the second. The third and final T20I will be played in Colombo, wrapping up what promises to be a closely-fought series.
From being down and nearly out, Sri Lanka have now thrown their hat back in the ring across all formats – and if this upward trajectory continues, the islanders might just be scripting another golden chapter in their cricketing folklore.
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