Sports

Pramodya Wickramasinghe to head Sri Lanka’s new selection committee

Published

4 weeks ago

2025/12/17

Priyan

Pramodya Wickramasinghe has headed the committee for two years in the past

Former fast bowler Pramodya Wickremasinghe will head Sri Lanka’s new national selection committee, which picks both men’s and women’s senior squads. Also in the committee are former cricketers Vinothan John, Indika de Saram, Rasanjali de Alwis and Tharanga Paranavithana.

While the committee headed by Upul Tharanga is now defunct, there is some continuity for this fresh committee, with Paranavitana and de Saram also having served under Tharanga. Wickramasinghe has been chief selector before – between 2021 and 2023 – with Sri Lanka men’s poor performance in the 2023 World Cup prompting his removal. He was also part of a selection committee headed by Sanath Jayasuriya – now head coach – between 2013 and 2015.

The change in selectors was announced by Sri Lanka’s sports ministry. SLC chief executive Ashley de Silva said the board had been involved in the process. Sri Lanka’s Sports Law dictates that such appointments go through the sports ministry.

“Sri Lanka Cricket sends a list of about ten names to the ministry, and they have chosen from that,” de Silva told ESPNcricinfo. “There is no term as such. The appointment is until further notice.”

De Silva also said that the Tharanga-led committee had simply come to the end of its term. Internally, there had been no push towards extending their term until the end of the men’s T20 World Cup in February and March. In fact, it had been a little over three weeks ago that Tharanga suggested captain Charith Asalanka may be replaced in the coming weeks. That decision now passes to the new committee, whose first major assignment will be to select the World Cup squad.

All five members of this new committee have represented Sri Lanka at the highest level. Both Paranavitana and de Saram played domestic cricket into this decade. John is the oldest selector among them, having played his last match for Sri Lanka in 1987.

[Cricinfo]

All News Advertisement

Sports

Sri Lanka Under 19s open World Cup campaign against Japan

Published

1 hour ago

2026/01/16

Thilina Walpola

Sri Lanka led by skipper Vimath Dinsara (extrem left) will commence their Youth World Cup campaign against Japan on 17 January.

After winning back to back warm up matches Sri Lanka Under 19s led by Vimath Dinsara will kick off their Youth World Cup campaign with confidence when they meet minnows Japan in their first match at Windhoek Namibia on Saturday.

‎Sri Lanka lost the last two matches before the World Cup. They conceded defeat against Bangladesh in the last group match of the Asia Cup before suffering an eight wickets defeat at the hands of India in the semi-final of the tournament. That was not the ideal preparation ahead of the World Cup but now having defeated South Africa and Afghanistan during warm up matches Sri Lanka will enter the World Cup arena with confidence.

‎If stats of recent matches are of any indication to the form they are in Dimantha Mahavithana, Viran Chamuditha, Kavija Gamage and Dulnith Sigera are the players to watch in the batting department.

‎Gamage and Chamuditha reached 90s during the warm up matches.

‎Trinity College speedster Sethmika Senevirathne who did well during the Asia Cup, Jaffna paceman Kugathas Mathulan who has attracted the interest of India’s franchise cricket due to his sling arm action resembling Lasith Malinga and St. Joseph’s spinner Vigneswaran Akash who also hails from Jaffna are among the bowlers in a balanced attack.

‎Mahanama College’s Sigera and Chamika Heenatigala, St. Sebastian’s Moratuwa player Malintha Silva, Chamuditha, Rasith Nimsan, Gamage and late inclusion Jeewahan Sriram of Wesley are the other bowlers.

‎Sri Lanka will play all their group matches at Windhoek. Their other group stage opponents are Ireland and Australia.

‎Sri Lanka’s Group A Fixtures

‎SL Vs Japan 17- Jan- 2026

‎SL Vs Ireland 19- Jan- 2026

‎SL Vs Australia 23- Jan- 2026

Latest News

BCB removes Nazmul Islam as head of finance committee

Published

12 hours ago

2026/01/15

Priyan

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has removed Nazmul Islam as chairman of the board’s finance committee, following the CWAB’s player boycott of cricket in country until he resigns from his position.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wishes to inform that, following a review of recent developments and in the best interest of the organisation, the BCB President has decided to release Mr. Najmul Islam from his responsibilities as Chairman of the Finance Committee with immediate effect,” the BCB said in a statement.

“The decision has been taken in accordance with the authority vested in the BCB President under Article 31 of the BCB Constitution and is aimed at ensuring the continued smooth and effective functioning of the Board’s affairs. Until further notice, the BCB President will assume the role of Acting Chairman of the Finance Committee.

“The BCB reiterates that the interests of the cricketers remain its highest priority. The Board remains fully committed to upholding the honour and dignity of all players under its jurisdiction.

“In this regard, the BCB hopes that all cricketers will continue to display the highest standards of professionalism and dedication to the betterment of Bangladesh cricket during what is a challenging period for the game, and will do their utmost to ensure continued participation in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).”

Both BPL matches on Thursday – the first between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express, and the second between Rajshahi Warriors and Sylhet Titans – have been postponed due to the player boycott.

Even though there seemed to be movement on the issues – the BCB agreed to the player body CWAB’s demands and removed Nazmul Islam from his position as head of the board’s finance committee – but it came too late in the day for the matches to go ahead as scheduled. There was no confirmation yet whether the boycott would be called off or not, and whether the BPL matches on Friday would also be impacted.

[Cricinfo]

Latest News

BCB issues show cause notice to Nazmul Islam but Bangladesh players firm on boycott

Published

16 hours ago

2026/01/15

Priyan

Chattogram Royals were scheduled to play against Noakhali Express in the first BPL game of the day [Cricinfo]

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has issued a show cause notice to its director M Nazmul Islam over his “objectionable comments” in public against the country’s cricketers on Wednesday.

The notice came a couple of hours before the scheduled start of the BPL matches for the day, though the players’ body CWAB has called for a nationwide boycott on all forms of cricket unless Islam tenders his resignation.

The four first-division matches in the Dhaka Cricket League scheduled for the day didn’t start on Thursday morning, which caused serious concern in the BCB. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express players, who were supposed to play the first BPL match on Thursday, are sticking to the boycott.

“The board has already initiated formal disciplinary proceedings against the board member concerned,” the BCB statement read. “A show cause letter has been issued, and the individual has been instructed to submit a written response within 48 hours. The matter will be dealt with through due process and appropriate action will be taken based on the outcome of the proceedings.”

ESPNcricinfo understands that some board directors contacted the CWAB president Mohammad Mithun late on Wednesday night, offering that they would make Nazmul stand down from his role as the finance committee chairman. But Mithun said the cricketers’ call for the boycott remained in place.

The toss of the first BPL match on Thursday is at 12.30 pm local time. Once the start time for the match has passed, the CWAB leaders are supposed to hold a press conference, where they will present the BCB with their demands, including the resignation of the director.

[Cricinfo]