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Dialog partners with Battle of Maroons in hill capital

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Thisara Kasthuriarachchi, Vice President Head of Business Growth and Operations at Dialog Axiata PLC, presented the cheque as Title Sponsor of the 118th Battle of the Maroons to the two Principals, Dhammika Herath from Kingswood College and Mahesh Karunaratne from Dharmaraja College. Also in the picture are Deminthe Dahanayake and Thanuja Godewatte from the match organizing committee.

Dialog has partnered with the Battle of the Maroons, the oldest rivalry in the hill capital, which will take place when longtime competitors Dharmaraja and Kingswood face off for the T.B. Tennekoon Challenge Trophy. The three day encounter gets underway today at Pallekele.

Today’s contest marks the 118th edition in this historic series. Of the 117 matches played to date, Dharmaraja holds a substantial lead with 36 victories compared to Kingswood’s 19, while the remaining matches have ended in draws. Dharmaraja currently possess the trophy after securing a decisive victory last year under captain Dulara Bandulasena’s leadership.

Kingswood’s last victory in the series dates back to 1958 under Maurice Fernando’s leadership when the match was played at Randles Hill. This presents a formidable challenge for the team as they seek to reclaim the trophy after a 67-year drought.

Reviewing this season’s performances, the advantage appears to favour Dharmaraja, led by fifth-year coloursman and Sri Lanka youth player Pulindu Perera, whilst Kingswood is also captained by Sri Lanka youth player Kavija Gamage.



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Aahil and Akesha crowned Under-18 champions

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Aahil Kaleel (Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)

111th Vision Care Colombo Championship

Aahil Kaleel of S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia and Akesha Silva of Newstead College, Negombo emerged as the boys’ and girls’ Under-18 singles champions respectively at the 111th Vision Care Colombo Championship, played on Sri Lanka Tennis Association’s clay courts.

‎Aahil staged a remarkable comeback in the boys’ Under-18 final to defeat Rehan Gunawardhane 1-6, 6-4, 10-5 after dropping the opening set. The S. Thomas’ player enjoyed an impressive run to the title, overpowering Dehan Wickramasinghe 6-1, 6-1 in the quarter-finals before edging Mayooran Kubheran in a thrilling semi-final 4-6, 7-5, 10-7.

‎In the girls’ Under-18 final, Akesha Silva was crowned champion after Sahansa Damsiluni retired while trailing 1-0. Akesha booked her place in the final with a convincing 6-1, 6-4 victory over Gethmi Fernando in the semi-finals. Her toughest challenge came in the quarter-finals, where she outlasted Sandithi Usgodaarachchi 6-3, 6-7(4), 14-12 in a marathon encounter.

Akesha Silva

‎In the boys’ Under-18 doubles semi-finals, Mayooran Kubheran and Ashlin de Silva defeated Ranida Ranaweera and Ashmal Mohamed 5-4, 4-1, while Methika Wickramasinghe and Jayin de Seram overcame Jamal Sabry and Lithum Jayabandu 4-1, 2-4, 10-2 to set up the championship final.

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ICC contacts ECB over Stokes retirement video

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Before start of Day 4, Stokes informed teammates of his decision during the Trent Bridge Test [Cricbuzz]
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has written to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after the governing body deemed the release of Ben Stokes’ retirement announcement during the third Test against New Zealand to be in breach of its Player and Match officials’ Area (PMOA) regulations.

Stokes’ decision to retire from international cricket was made public on the fourth day of the Trent Bridge Test, even as the match was still in progress. Before the start of play that morning, the former England captain informed his teammates of his decision in the dressing room, with that address filmed by ECB’s media team. The footage, complete with audio, was released to broadcasters and on social media shortly before the Tea interval while play was underway.

The ICC has since informed the ECB that publishing the footage before the conclusion of the Test contravened its PMOA minimum standards, which prohibit the recording and broadcast of audio and video from team dressing rooms during an ongoing international fixture. The regulations, introduced as part of the ICC’s anti-corruption framework, specifically state that no fixed or temporary recording equipment should be used inside dressing rooms for broadcast purposes.

In its correspondence, sent on Saturday, the ICC reiterated that any material captured within the PMOA must neither include audio nor be released before the end of a match. The governing body has not publicly commented on the matter, and the ECB is yet to issue a response.

Explaining the timing of the announcement after the fourth day’s play, Stokes said the rollout had been coordinated between his representatives and the ECB. “I just said, ‘You guys work with Michael Lumb and Neil Fairbrother, who work with me, and you guys just come up with a plan’,” said the all-rounder.

In a moment that added to the drama, Stokes was bowling when news of his retirement broke publicly and dismissed Zak Foulkes with the very next ball he delivered. His international career eventually came to an end on the fifth and final day of the Test.

Reacting to the news of ICC’s move, Stokes posted a sarcastic Tweet on Thursday (July 9), writing simply: “Sack him.”

Stokes’ retirement has also accelerated England’s search for a new Test captain ahead of next month’s three-Test series against Pakistan. Vice-captain Harry Brook has already said it would be an ‘honour’ to take over, although the ECB is understood to be taking its time before confirming an appointment.

England’s next Test assignment is at home against Pakistan, a three-Test series against Pakistan which will get underway at Headingley on August 19.

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Morocco dealt huge blow as injured Saibari out of World Cup quarterfinal

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Ismael Saibari has been Morocco's standout forward in this year's World Cup [Aljazeera]

Morocco’s plans for their World Cup quarterfinal against France have been shaken up after it was confirmed that star forward Ismael Saibari will miss the match.

Saibari sustained a hamstring injury in the last-16 match against Canada and has not recovered in time for the crucial knockout match, coach Mohamed Ouahbi said on Wednesday.

“Everyone is 100 percent fit except Saibari. This game comes too soon for him, but I hope he is not out for the rest of the competition,” Ouahbi told reporters ahead of Thursday’s last-eight showdown in Boston.

Saibari, who has just joined Bayern Munich from Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven on a five-year deal for a reported fee of 50 million euros ($57m), has been one of the standout players at this year’s World Cup.

He scored in each of his team’s three group games and converted the winning penalty in the shootout as Morocco beat the Netherlands in the last 32.

However, the attacking midfielder came off early with a hamstring problem in the 3-0 win against Canada in the last 16 last Saturday.

Should Morocco progress, Saibari might make a comeback in the semifinals.

“He’s not ready, but I hope it’s not the end of the tournament for him,” Ouahbi said.

Morocco's Ismael Saibari comes off the pitch to receive medical attention after sustaining an injury
Saibari went off the pitch to receive medical attention after sustaining an injury against Canada [Aljazeera]

Soufiane Rahimi, who is an out-and-out striker, came on for Saibari in that game and scored Morocco’s third goal.

The Atlas Lions are seeking to avenge their 2-0 defeat against France in the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup.

That was the first time any African or Arab team had reached the last four of the tournament, and their incentive this time is to match that run.

Ouahbi dismissed suggestions that his team can say they have already had a successful tournament by getting to the quarterfinals.

“We absolutely want to win the game tomorrow, so we will not listen to people who say it doesn’t matter if we go out now,” said the coach, who took over from Walid Regragui in March.

“Tomorrow, we will try to get to the semifinals. I don’t like this sentiment that we have already done well and anything else is a bonus,” added Ouahbi, who said he had watched the 2022 meeting of the sides as a fan, on television.

Meanwhile, Morocco’s Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz insisted his side can compete with the much-fancied France as he prepares to come up against Kylian Mbappe, his colleague at club level.

“Tomorrow, we are playing one of the favourites, but we have shown we can compete, and that is why we are here. I have full faith and full confidence in the team.”

[Aljazeera]

 

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