Sports

KJP and Dimuth different styles, contrasting leaders

Published

5 years ago

2021/05/11

Sahan Weerasooriya

Dimuth’s successor is Kusal Janith Perera, one of the finest batsmen that we have.

by Rex Clementine

Sri Lanka’s selectors have been ruthless axing as many as six seniors for the upcoming tours of Bangladesh and United Kingdom where they will play T-20 and ODI series. The national cricket team in limited overs cricket in particular has been struggling to make an impact in the last four years. Already forced to play the qualifying tournament of the T-20 World Cup, Sri Lanka is in the borderline in the limited overs championship as well and unless they get the house in order, they will have to qualify for the 50 over World Cup as well in 2023.

In recent times it has been proven that there are young talents good enough to take up the challenges of international cricket and throwing them to the deep end needs to be appreciated. But at the same time rather than doing as many as six changes, you wonder whether there should have been smooth transition rather than total changes.

Captain Dimuth Karunaratne has got the sack. Now, there was one reason for Dimuth to be appointed ODI captain in 2019, just before the World Cup. The team was in tatters and there was rampant infighting. Dimuth was chosen to lead the side despite not having played in an ODI for more than four years.

It worked as Dimuth was able to bring the side together and into the bargain sorted one of the major issues the team’s batting unit was facing. This was a time that Sri Lanka were getting bowled out without utilizing their 50 overs. With the captain occupying one end up, Sri Lanka were able to sort that problem. The 97 he scored against the Aussies at The Oval was a class act playing against a formidable pace attack.

He’s been in superb form as well having accumulated 427 runs in three innings against Bangladesh in the just concluded Test series that included a double hundred, hundred and a half-century.

Dimuth’s successor is Kusal Janith Perera, one of the finest batsmen that we have. His seniority, him able to own a place in the side and fearless approach all stand in good stead for him. However, looking at KJP from a distance, he gives you the impression that he is an introvert. When such a person is given the additional responsibility that’s going to only affect his game. Brian Lara is a classic example. Fabulous player but utter failure as captain.

KJP also had failed a fitness test that would have made him ineligible for the tour of West Indies. But before the final selection was done he was injured. It remains unclear whether KJP has passed the fitness test or he has been given an exception.

Another player who probably deserved to be in the side was Nuwan Pradeep. Used only for limited over games in recent times, Pradeep has done a decent job both bowling at a good pace and remaining economical. Pradeep has lot more to offer for the team.

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Sports

All-round Athapaththu helps Sri Lanka level series against Bangladesh

Published

5 hours ago

2026/04/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Chamari Athapaththu bagged 3 for 36 • BCB

Chamari Athapaththu’s all-round show helped Sri Lanka level the ODI series against Bangladesh in Rajshahi. The visitors won by four wickets after chasing down the home side’s sub-par 165 all out in 45.5 overs.

Athapaththu, who had missed the first match due to a finger injury, roared back into action with three wickets. She started off with Sarmin Sultana’s wicket in the 16th over, although the batter expressed her disbelief at the umpire’s lbw decision against her. Athapaththu then removed Sobhana Mostary in her next over by having her caught at square leg.

Nilakshika Silva then took a brilliant catch at mid-off to help Athapaththu take her third wicket when Ritu Moni had mistimed a cover drive in the 31st over. Sharmin Akhter, Bangladesh’s top-scorer from the first ODI, fell for a duck to Malki Madara in the fifth over.

Captain Nigar Sultana top-scored on Wednesday with 58 off 101 balls with four boundaries. She had little support at the other end, before Nimesha Meepage had her caught behind in the 41st over.

Madara, Meepage and Inoka Ranaweera took two wickets each while Kavisha Dilhari picked up one.

During the chase, Athapaththu dominated the Bangladesh attack despite little support from her top order. She made 40 off 39 balls with eight fours, before falling to left-arm spinner Nahida Akhter in the 17th over. Nahida gave her a send-off, with Athapaththu staring back at her for several seconds before walking off.

Harshitha Samarawickrema and Hansima Karunaratne then added 79 runs for the fourth wicket to get Sri Lanka close to the 166-run target. Samarawickrama made 50 off 76 balls with seven fours, while Karunaratne struck six fours in her 40 off 64 balls.

Nahida removed both batters, before getting Kaushini Nuthyangana to complete her four-wicket haul. Sultana Khatun and Moni, meanwhile, took one wicket each.

The third and final ODI of the three-match series will also be held in Rajshahi, on April 25.

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka Women

166 for 6 in 38.2 overs (Chamari Athapaththu 40, Harshitha Samarawickrama 50, Hansima Karunaratne 40; Sultana Khatun 1-36, Ritu Moni 1-27, Nahida Akter 4-21) beat Bangladesh Women 165 in 45.5 overs (Sarmin Sultana 25, Nigar Sultana 58, Nahider Akter 20; Malki Madara 2-30, Nimesha Meepage 2-29, Inoka Ranaweera 2-28, Chamari Athapaththu 3-36, ) by four wickets

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Dates set for LPL 2026

Published

5 hours ago

2026/04/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 will be held from 10th July to 5 August 2026.

The sixth edition of the much-anticipated T20 league will be played across four venues: SSC, Colombo; RPICS, Colombo; PICS, Pallekele; and RDICS, Dambulla.

The online portal for foreign player registration will open on 4th May 2026.

The tournament will be conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the owner of the LPL, in partnership with The IPG Group, the event rights holder of the tournament.

The Lanka Premier League, Sri Lanka’s premier domestic T20 tournament with an international flavor, was launched in 2020.

Samantha Dodanwela, who is an Executive Committee Member of the SLC, will continue to function as the Tournament Director.

Sports

Seventeen Air Force athletes to represent Sri Lanka at Asian Beach Games

Published

6 hours ago

2026/04/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Seventeen athletes from the SLAF are set to represent Sri Lanka at the 6th Asian Beach Games, scheduled to be held in China from 22 to 30 April 2026. ‎The SLAF contingent will compete across multiple disciplines, namely athletics, handball, volleyball, wrestling and kabaddi. ‎In team leadership roles, the Sri Lankan Women’s Handball team will be captained by Corporal Erandi WP of the SLAF, while the Sri Lankan Men’s Kabaddi team will be led by Leading Aircraftman Samarakoon SMCR. ‎The Air Force athletes are seen pictured with Air Force officials after the received best wishes from Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe.