Sports
Let’s find solutions to problems, not scapegoats
by Rex Clementine
The Asia Cup final last Sunday was a bitter pill to swallow. While 35,000 adoring fans turned up at RPS paying through the nose to witness a good game of cricket, most streets in the country were deserted as millions of ardent fans watched the proceedings on television with keenness hoping for Sri Lanka to defend their title. Alas, it was all over in two hours. Sri Lanka had been shot out for their lowest total at home – 50.
The final was an anti-climax no doubt. Rather than discussing conspiracy theories and offering the game to India on a platter, let us address the real issues facing our cricket. Every time we play India in recent years, they expose the vast gap between the teams. They have moved far ahead while we keep blaming the usual suspects.
On every occasion where we lose a big final or by a massive margin we find scapegoats. It used to be all Kumar Sangakkara’s fault at one point. Then we moved onto Angelo Mathews. The blame was placed in the doorstep of Chandika Hathurusinghe more recently. This time around we found a scapegoat in Dasun Shanaka.
It is incredible that the selectors thought that the captain needed to go with just over one week left for the team’s departure to India for the sport’s showpiece event.
That is exactly what they have been doing during their tenure of over two years – finding scapegoats. Some of our heaviest defeats in the sport both in red and white ball formats have come under the current set of selectors. Instead of finding solutions and addressing the real issues, the selectors have found whipping boys and passed on the blame.
Chairman of Selectors Pramodya Wickramasinghe made a hue and cry about players’ fitness and then got rid of half a dozen seniors from the white ball formats. He then made players ineligible for selection if they failed fitness tests. You wonder what has happened to those rigid fitness routines now? Dare we say the team that he picks for the World Cup will at least have two or three players who do not meet minimum fitness standards.
India’s success is not just due to the IPL. There are various other aspects like some terrific athletes like Virat Kohli coming through and pushing all sorts of limits. Although fitness standards have been lowered since Rohit Sharma took over as captain, India have overall high standards in fitness. India’s strength always has been their spin but nowadays they have backed their quicks and if you wonder how come someone like Mohammed Shami can not find a place in the side, Mohmmed Siraj answered those questions in the finals.
There is so much at stake in Indian cricket and you don’t find players overstepping the line whereas we have multiple discipline issues ranging from drunk driving, brawls at casinos and even players being arrested on overseas soil.
Much needs to be done to put our cricket in order and threatening to sack Dasun Shanka alone will not solve our problems.
The same set of selectors were responsible for appointing Dasun as ODI captain knowing all too well that he didn’t own a place in the ODI team. During the contract crisis with Kusal Janith Perera on warpath with the establishment, the selectors wanted a compromise candidate and Dasun Shanaka fitted that bill. KJP was given the cold shoulder. Bloodless cricketing coups aren’t a new thing in our country and from Bandula Warnapura onwards many captains have suffered the same fate.
The selectors had so many chances to get rid of Dasun if they wanted but they were playing political games. Obviously, they didn’t want to go back to Angelo Mathews, the rightful heir to the throne. Wanindu Hasaranga is of course too independent and will be tough to control while the selectors have had differences with Dhananjaya de Silva.
Having waited this long, when the nation is angry following the Asia Cup final debacle, the selectors thought that Dasun is their fall guy for they needed someone.
Thankfully sanity prevailed. With the World Cup just around the corner, this is not the right time to change your captain and you’ve got to wait till the World Cup is over.
As for Dasun, there’s so much he can work on to ensure that he doesn’t become a mere passenger in India. He can start with tightening his defence. However, he seems to be too busy doing PR acts apologizing to fans for the losses.
Whatever said and done, under Dasun’s leadership Sri Lanka have reached back-to-back Asia Cup finals. On both occasions Star Sports and the organizers were hoping for an India-Pakistan clash but Dasun has spoilt those plans. Having done that now it is time to make some contributions with the bat and get noticed or face the axe after the World Cup.
If Dasun doesn’t perform with the bat in India, the selectors should ask him to step down. While doing so they themselves can tender their resignations for their flawed policies is a reason why the game is not moving forward.
Sri Lanka will begin their three match T20I series against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Friday with an opportunity for several youngsters to stake their claims, although the absence of Pathum Nissanka leaves a sizeable hole at the top of the order.
Nissanka, Sri Lanka’s highest-ranked batter in the ICC T20I rankings, has been one of the side’s most consistent performers in recent years and his absence deprives the tourists of a proven match-winner against a Pakistan attack that will still carry plenty of firepower despite resting several senior players.
The three T20Is will be played in Rawalpindi on October 9, 11 and 13 before attention switches to the seven match ODI tri-series involving hosts Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England.
While Sri Lanka will miss Nissanka, his absence opens the door for highly rated Sineth Jayawardene, who has been earmarked as one for the future. The former Sri Lanka Under-19 captain now has an opportunity to show that he can make the considerable jump from domestic and age group cricket to the international stage. Sineth skippered Royal College, Colombo with distinction.
There will also be considerable interest in leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, another player Sri Lanka have invested in with an eye on the future. With Wanindu Hasaranga out of the equation, Viyaskanth has an opportunity to make a strong case for a regular berth rather than remain on the fringes.
Sri Lanka will be encouraged by the fact that Pakistan too have opted to look beyond some of their established names for the T20I leg of the tour.
Sahibzada Farhan will captain Pakistan after leading them at the recently concluded Asian Games in Japan, taking over from Salman Ali Agha, who has been left out of the T20I squad. Salman remains part of Pakistan’s ODI plans.
Pakistan have also rested Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi for the T20Is, although both return for the ODI tri-series, where Shaheen will continue as captain.
The hosts have named uncapped all-rounders Razaullah and Mohammad Imran Randhawa in their 15-member T20I squad, while Maaz Sadaqat and Hasan Nawaz have been rewarded for impressive performances at the Asian Games.
Hasan finished the tournament as Pakistan’s leading run scorer with 123 runs, including a blistering 96 off 51 balls against India in the final, although Pakistan had to settle for silver.
Fast bowler Naseem Shah returns to Pakistan’s T20I squad having last played the format against Sri Lanka in February, while Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed provide experience.
For Sri Lanka, while Nissanka’s runs will be sorely missed his absence means someone else has the chance to put his hand up. Sri Lanka will hope one or two of their young guns grab that opportunity with both hands.
The ODI tri-series will follow the T20Is, with the first three matches being played in Rawalpindi before the tournament moves to Lahore for the remaining league games and the final.
Pakistan have retained a more experienced core for the 50-over competition, with Babar, Salman, Haris Rauf and Faheem Ashraf among those included.
Former Pakistan Under-19 captain Saad Baig has earned his maiden ODI call-up after scoring more than 1,000 runs in the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, while left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Moqim is another notable inclusion.
Pakistan have also strengthened their backroom staff, bringing back former Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait as bowling consultant. Tait previously served as Pakistan’s bowling coach in 2022-23 and replaces Ashley Noffke, who left after the Asian Games to take over as Netherlands head coach.
ATF Under-16 Colombo Week 1 Tennis
Sri Lanka’s junior players delivered a series of impressive performances on Wednesday, with the girls claiming all four semi-final places at the ATF Under-16 Colombo 2026 Week 1 tournament, held at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts.
Damsath Peiris
Methuli Naotunne led the charge with a notable quarter-final win over India’s Yashmitha Santhosh, recovering from a set loss to prevail 4-6, 7-5, 6-1. Kiara Jayamanne also came from behind to beat India’s Ahnavi Shaw 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.
Risindi
Hewawasam
In an all-Sri Lankan quarter-final, Risindi Hewawasam overcame Desandi Peiris 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, while Disini Samaraweera defeated Sayli Basnayake 3-6, 6-2, 6-0.
The Sri Lankan boys also impressed. Damsath Peiris beat Buvindu Jayawardhana 8-2, 7-6, and Yonal Dankumbura battled to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory over Jayan Sebastian.
The visiting players, however, proved tough to beat. The Philippines’ Anthony Castigador defeated Sri Lanka’s Dehan Wickramasinghe 6-2, 6-4, and India’s Gurshaan Chahal fought back to overcome Udeera Gunasinghe 2-6, 7-5, 7-5.
(RF)
Mosvold Sixes 2026 concluded on Sunday at the Colombo Malay Cricket Club with Travel Trends Leisure crowned champions after a closely fought final against last year’s winners, Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka, who finished as runners-up. Transco Travels were second runners-up.
Twenty three destination management companies took part in the six-a-side softball cricket tournament, organised by Mosvold Sri Lanka.
The Mosvold Martinus Challenge Trophy 2026 was presented to the champions by Nilanka Martinus, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Mosvold Boutique Hotels. Chief Guest Farveez Maharoof, the former Sri Lanka all-rounder, presented the runners-up award to Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka.
This year’s twenty three competing DMCs were Tangerine Tours, Sri Lanka Tailormade, Olanka Travels, Antiquity Sri Lanka, Travel Trends Leisure, House of Travels & Tourism, NKAR Travels & Tours, Jetwing Travels, Walkers Tours, Connaissance De Ceylan Sri Lanka, Delux Holidays, Ceylon Roots, Spiceland Holidays, Infinity Vacations, Tropiculture, Serene Travels, Authenticities, Red Apple Travel & Holidays Lanka, DTH Travel Lanka, Hayleys Travels, We stay Ceylon, Transco Travels and Ceylon Tours.
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