Sports
KJP : career of peaks, valleys and what-ifs
by Rex Clementine
When Sri Lanka handed the coaching reins to Graham Ford a decade ago, they had their reasons. The South African, an understudy to the legendary Bob Woolmer, had helped South Africa navigate a tricky generational transition. Under Ford’s watchful eye, fresh faces filled the void left by towering names with seamless ease. Sri Lanka, looking to rebuild, hoped Ford could replicate that magic. One of his early picks for the rebuilding project was Kusal Janith Perera.
KJP, as he’s affectionately called, was thrown into the deep end in Adelaide. But instead of floundering, he thrived on debut, guiding Sri Lanka to a thrilling run chase against Australia. On that same tour, he impressed in his T20 debut in Sydney, smashing a 22-ball 33 to clinch another win. Ford, grinning from ear to ear, seemed to have struck gold. He believed this young man would do wonders for Sri Lankan cricket.
But did we really need a foreigner to tell us about the unpolished diamonds in our backyard? KJP was already a standout in school cricket. Former SLC Chairman Vijaya Malalasekara, with an eye for talent sharper than an eagle’s, spotted him at Dharmapala Vidyalaya and promptly recommended him to Royal College. The move paid dividends, and KJP’s ascent was meteoric.
Despite his rapid rise, KJP remains a humble soul. The kind of guy who’d show up at a friend’s wedding or a relative’s funeral, no questions asked. He’s unassuming, low-key, and content with a simple life. But fame, like an unwelcome relative, brings baggage—media obligations, sponsor events, public speaking gigs. These weren’t KJP’s strong suits. His reluctance to step into the spotlight led many to brand him aloof. Leadership roles, even in franchise cricket, eluded him as people mistook his reserved nature for a lack of ambition.
But make no mistake, KJP isn’t an introvert. In fact, he’s a sharp reader of the game. However, trust is a currency he values, and after the trials he’s endured, who can blame him? No Sri Lankan cricketer has navigated rougher waters.
Few remember that KJP was a key part of Sri Lanka’s 2014 ICC T20 World Cup-winning side, opening the innings alongside T.M. Dilshan. The decision to promote him as an opener was strategic – bolstering the middle order with a senior player’s expertise while exploiting KJP’s big-hitting prowess when field restrictions were on. But not everyone was thrilled. A senior player, feeling slighted, reportedly turned against him, marking the start of KJP’s struggles.
KJP isn’t one to form cliques or stir drama. He plays his part and moves on. But being misunderstood has become a recurring theme in his career. Case in point: the 2016 doping scandal. Suspended by the ICC for a supposed violation, KJP bore the brunt of global scrutiny. Credit to Sri Lanka Cricket for standing by him, eventually proving the lab’s findings were faulty. Yet, the episode sidelined him for months, leaving scars that don’t easily fade.
In 2021, KJP reluctantly accepted the captaincy, aware of the minefield he was stepping into. Leading a team with several former captains is no cakewalk; compromises are inevitable. KJP found himself embroiled in a pay dispute – not of his making, but as skipper, he became the face of the conflict. His stance earned him enemies, and when an opportunist teammate publicly broke ranks, KJP’s leadership tenure was cut short. Another cruel twist in his turbulent journey.
And yet, amid the lows, there were moments of pure brilliance. None more so than his jaw-dropping 153* in Durban, a knock Sunil Gavaskar hailed as Test cricket’s finest. It single-handedly secured an improbable victory and an unprecedented series win in South Africa. But the euphoria was short-lived. Seven Tests later, KJP was axed from the format, never to don whites again.
His career feels like a Shakespearean tragedy – so much promise, so many hurdles. On Thursday, we glimpsed what might have been. KJP’s blistering hundred, only the third by a Sri Lankan in T20Is, was a vintage counterattack. It kickstarted the year with a bang and reminded us of his unparalleled talent.
At 34, KJP’s sun is setting, but sunsets can be glorious. While his career has been more stumbles than strides, one hopes his twilight years deliver the grand finale he deserves. For a man who’s endured so much, it’s only fitting that his swan song is one of triumph.
South Africa won the second Test comfortably by 10 wickets in the final session on Day 4 in Cape Town and thereby, clinched the series 2-0 against Pakistan. The hosts comfortably chased down the paltry target of 58 in just over seven overs. This was after Pakistan surmounted 478 in their second innings, a remarkable effort with the bat after being enforced to follow-on. The victory has ensured that South Africa were unbeaten in Tests in the 2024/25 season with nine wins and a draw.
DSS spark to life after Aravinda’s pep talk
by Reemus Fernando
D.S. Senanayaka College Colombo have been struggling during the third term matches of the Under 19 Division I cricket tournament. They were the lowest placed team in their group according to the year end points table. But yesterday they were a totally different batting unit as the scored 316 for nine wickets declared against Nalanda in their fifth tournament match at DSS ground.
It is now their highest score of the season. While Shanal Binuksha (76), Sohan Yapa (24), and Chanul Athale (46) made useful contributions in the top order, number nine batsman Dilash Kumaranayake hammered an unbeaten 101 runs in 88 balls inclusive of 11 fours and six sixes for the home team to post 316 for nine wickets declared.
Has the relegation scares made the struggling batting unit realized their true potential?
“Aravinda de Silva delivered a pep talk yesterday. He made the boys realize that they were there to enjoy the game of cricket. I think that has transformed the team,” coach Keerthi Gunarathna told The Island.
” There’s a long way to go hope they will keep on fighting,” he said.
The batting legend Aravinda de Silva, an old boy of D.S. Senanayaka has met the cricketers on Gunarathna’s request.
Match Details
Tier ‘A’
Mahanama fight back on 20 wickets day at BRC
Scores
Mahanama
168 all out in 47.4 overs (Chamika Heenatigala 32, Sithum Vihanga 38; Pasindu Maheesha 3/19, Dinal Sewmina 2/33, Praveen Maneesha 4/55) and 32 for no loss in 4 overs
Lumbini
144 all out in 40 overs (Bimsara Weerasinghe 36, Gimhana Wijayapura 33, Ashan Shanika 20; Anuka Wijewardana 4/25, Sithum Vihanga 4/36)
DSS score big against Nalanda at DSS ground
Scores
DSS
316 for 9 decl. in 91.3 overs (Shanal Binuksha 76, Sohan Yapa 24, Chanul Athale 46, Dilash Kumaranayake 101n.o. ; Hasith Rathnayake 2/80, Sadew Samarasinghe 4/61)
Nalanda
9 for no loss in 6 overs
Sebs make Maris Stella follow on at Negombo
Scores
St. Sebastian’s
212 all out in 56.5 overs (Kaveesha Perera 55, Adesh Almeida 40, Koshendra Fernando 37n.o.; Oshada Gunasinghe 4/67, Hasindu Perera 2/40, Kevin Kadigamuwa 3/43)
Maris Stella
107 all out in 30.4 overs (Oshada Gunasinghe 41n.o., Ramith Bandara 28; Malintha Silva 4/21, Adesh Almeida 3/35, Koshendra Fernando 3/32) and 25 for no loss in 6 overs
Thomians 109 for 2 after Bens’ 179 at Mount Lavinia
Scores
St. Benedict’s
179 all out in 63.5 overs (Eshan Edirisuriya 29, Janindu Nandasena 73, Aaron de Silva 3/25 Darien Diago 2/28)
S. Thomas’
109 for 2 in 36 overs (Dineth Goonewardene 55n.o., Avinash Fernando 35n.o.)
Tier ‘B’
Isipatana in complete control at Campbell Park
Scores
Wesley
91 all out in 32.4 overs (Anuga Pahansara 22, Rukshan Tharanga 25; Chanul Dinoth 5/29, Menula Sadev 3/25) and 13 for 3 in 10 overs (Dimuthu Tharaka 2/02)
Isipatana
233 all out in 54.3 overs (Navindu Hettiarachchige 35, Ruchith Rodrigo 48, Dilpa Ruwanaka 24, Ranmith Senarath 44, Chanul Dinoth 47; Dinuja Samararathne 6/63 Adhyaan Zain 3/68)
Isuru, Sanjana score centuries for Moratu Vidyalaya at Ambepussa
Scores
Moratu MV
300 for 6 decl. in 79 overs (Isuru Nidharshana 118, Visal Sri Sathsara 38rtd., Sanjana Senevirathne 104; Shehan Kumara )
St. Anne’s
34 for 1 in 19 overs (Wageesha Ranasinghe 24n.o.)
Traditional Matches
St. Peter’s dominate at Bambalapitiya
Scores
St. Aloysius’
140 all out in 42.5 overs (Charya Paranavithana 36; Dilana Damsara 5/35)
St. Peter’s
213 for 5 in 55 overs (Dilana Damsara 92, Asadisa de Silva 50n.o.)
3rd SAARC Snooker Championship
SAARC Snooker Championship conducted by Billiards and Snookers Association of Sri Lanka will commence at the Moors Sports Club billiards table in Colombo today.
The four-day championship organized by the South Asian Cue Sports Association will see 14 cueists from six nations competing for the prestigious M.J.M. Lafir Memorial Trophy.
It is the third edition of the tournament. The inaugural championship was hosted by Bangladesh in the year 2019. It was won by Asjad Iqbal of Pakistan when he defeated compatriot Mohammad Bilaal while the second edition was held in 2022. In 2022, Ishpreet Singh Chadha of India won defeating compatriot Brijesh Damani.
Malship Group along with Pyramid Wilmar, Olanda Villas, National Olympic Committee, Automobile Association and Crown Billiard International have come together to sponsor the event.
The tournament will witness the participation of 14 cueists with four from Sri Lanka and two each from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nepal.
The hosts are represented by Susantha Boteju who has won 19 national snooker championship titles, Irshath Thaha the reigning national billiard, six red ball snooker and the national snooker champion, Murugesu Prathap and Mohamed Musharaf.
Pakistan fields three time world snooker champion Mohammad Asif who is also the reigning world snooker champion and Naseem Akhta. India will have Saurav Kothari and Paras Gupta, while Bangladesh are represented by Ahmed Nizam Uddin and Asif Imran. Afghanistan will field Salih Mohammad and Mohammad Rahim and Nepal’s pair are Ayush Gautam and Ankit Man Shrestha.
The opening ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Moors Sports Club billiards parlour at 9.00 a.m.
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