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President holds key meetings with world leaders on the side lines of the World Governments Summit

Published

12 months ago

2025/02/12

Priyan

President Anura Kumara Disanayake who is currently attending the World Governments Summit 2025 in Dubai held several high-level bilateral discussions with Heads of State, on Tuesday (11).

During the day, the President met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. The discussions focused on strengthening trade relations and diversifying markets between the two countries. Both leaders also deliberated on the importance of adopting a new strategic framework to enhance economic co-operation.

President Disanayake briefed the Pakistani Prime Minister on Sri Lanka’s current economic policies, emphasizing that his administration is committed to transparent and corruption-free economic management. He further highlighted that such governance would create a solid foundation for Sri Lanka’s economic growth.

Additionally, the discussion placed special emphasis on promoting tourism between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, exploring opportunities to boost the industry in both countries.

Meanwhile, President Disanayake also met with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The discussions revolved around the potential for Sri Lanka to leverage the United Kingdom’s expertise and specialized knowledge in various sectors.

President Disanayake briefed Blair on the investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s health, ports and tourism sectors, extending an invitation for UK investors to explore these prospects.

The former British PM highlighted the potential for Sri Lanka to benefit from expertise in climate change adaptation, good governance and agricultural advancements.

Additionally, he commended Sri Lanka’s current administration for its transparency and corruption-free governance, specifically recognizing these qualities as key strengths of the present leadership.

Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath also accompanied the President on this visit.

(PMD)

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USA pick former Sri Lanka allrounder Shehan Jayasuriya in T20 World Cup squad

Published

3 hours ago

2026/01/30

Priyan

Former Sri Lanka allrounder Shehan Jayasuriya is set to make his USA debut at the 2026 T20 World Cup. The 34-year-old, who bats left-handed and bowls offspin, has been named in USA’s 15-man squad for the tournament, which is set to begin in India and Sri Lanka on February 7.

Jayasuriya, who played 12 ODIs and 18 T20Is for Sri Lanka from 2015 to 2020, is one of two players in the squad who are yet to earn their first USA caps. The other is the 29-year-old Peshawar-born legspin-bowling allrounder Mohammad Moshin, who is yet to make his international debut.

Also in the squad is the Pune-born batter Shubham Ranjane, who has played four ODIs for USA but is yet to make his T20I debut. Ranjane is the grandson of Vasant Ranjane, the medium-pacer who played seven Test matches for India from 1958 to 1964.

The squad includes 10 players who were part of USA’s run to the Super EIght stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup. These include Andries Gous and Saurabh Netravalkar, the team’s highest run-getter and wicket-taker in that tournament, and captain Monank Patel. Star batter Aaron Jones, however, is not in the squad, having been charged under the ICC and CWI’s anti-corruption codes and suspended from all cricket.

With USA Cricket presently suspended by the ICC, the squad was picked by a panel led by head coach Pubudu Dassanayake, with the selection observed by a compliance officer appointed by the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

USA are in Group A alongside Pakistan, Namibia, Netherlands and defending champions India. They begin their tournament against co-hosts India in Mumbai on February 7, and then face Pakistan – whom they famously defeated in the 2024 edition – in Colombo on February 10. Their last two group matches are in Chennai, against Netherlands (February 13) and Namibia (February 15).

USA squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Monank Patel (capt), Jasdeep Singh, Andries Gous, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milind Kumar, Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamala, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Harmeet Singh, Nosthush Kenjige, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Saurabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, Shubham Ranjane

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Jofra Archer back as England and Sri Lanka begin World Cup countdown

Published

5 hours ago

2026/01/30

Priyan

Jofra Archer will return ahead of schedule from his side strain (Cricinfo)

Time for the real quiz. As pleasing as it was for Harry Brook and Brendon McCullum to win a rare ODI series away from home – England’s first in almost three years – the true purpose of their return to the coal-face so soon after the Ashes was to help them tune up in the shortest format, with a T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka just around the corner.

England are a more confident beast in T20, as evinced by them blasting 304 for 2 against South Africa last September – the highest score in games between Full Member nations. But this series will provide important reconnaissance ahead of the World Cup, with England set to play their three Super 8s games in Sri Lanka (assuming no slip-ups in the group stage, where they face Nepal, West Indies, Scotland and Italy).

That game at Old Trafford effectively sealed the deal on Jos Buttler reuniting with Phil Salt at the top of the order (after Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett were tried earlier in the summer) and most of the line-up fills itself in from there. Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson have been earmarked as the experienced frontline spin pairing, with the potential also to call on Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks; Sam Curran helps balance the side, while Jofra Archer, who was not in the original squad, is a surprise inclusion, fit to lead the seam attack after a side strain interrupted his Ashes.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, need to brush up on their T20 skills as they prepare to host a global men’s ICC competition for the first time since 2012. As Andrew Fidel Fernando, ESPNcricinfo’s senior writer out in Sri Lanka, said on the Switch Hit podcast at the start of the tour, perhaps they could do worse than learning some of the reckless habits that are second nature to their guests?

The days of Sri Lanka being a team of freewheeling mavericks at the cutting edge of the format are long gone. To pick out just one measure of their conservatism, since the start of 2025, Sri Lanka batters have scored at a rate of 8.09 per over in T20Is – quicker only than Afghanistan and Bangladesh, among Full Members. Results have been patchy, with one series win – against Zimbabwe – in that time.

They have a new captain, too, albeit an old hand in Dasun Shanaka, who previously did the job between 2021 and 2023. He officially replaced Charith Asalanka last month (though Asalanka remains in the squad) and has already found himself in the spotlight trying to explain decisions by the selectors. with Kusal Perera seemingly retained at the expense of Kamindu Mendis, despite the latter being, in his captain’s words, “a very valuable player”.

The backroom has at least been strengthened, with Vikram Rathour and Lasith Malinga among the experienced heads Shanaka can turn to. And there is still plenty to work with: the likes of Pathum Nissanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana all dangerous talents who evoke the rebellious spirit of Sri Lanka’s golden period.

While Sri Lanka’s T20 batting has become more and more inhibited, Pathum Nissanka has ascended to the peak of his hitting powers. Five years since coming through with a first-class average in the 60s and a reputation as a classical strokemaker, he shapes as one of the players best placed to carry Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup hopes on home soil. He had his best year in T20Is in 2025, pushing his strike rate up to 149.16 and scoring a maiden hundred (although the moment was slightly spoiled by Sri Lanka slipping up against India and losing the Super Over). A 24-ball fifty in the third ODI against England, briefly firing hopes of chasing 358, showed his batting is in the right mode.

Liam Dawson comes across as someone who would rather the spotlight be pointed in completely the opposite direction, but he has steadily become a key cog in the white-ball set-up – after years of collecting winners’ medals on the fringes. Since being recalled last summer as part of England’s planning for a subcontinental World Cup, he has taken twice as many wickets (12) as he did in the first eight years of his T20I career, performing his role with aplomb as the middle-overs flannel who suffocates opposition batters.

Sri Lanka look set to field a very similar top order to that used in the ODI series – although that may not include Pavan Rathnayake, who has batted once in T20Is but won a place in the squad after his sparkling maiden hundred on Tuesday. Dushmantha Chameera returns to contention after being rested for the ODIs, but Sri Lanka might want to have a look at his back-up, Pramod Madushan, whose last T20I appearance was in 2023. Dunith Wellalage was practising his range hitting at training on Thursday and could also be in line for a recall.

Sri Lanka (possible): Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage/Dunith Wellalage, Dasun Shanaka (capt), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera/Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana

England named their team a day out, with Salt, the No. 2-ranked ICC batter, partnered by Buttler and Tom Banton carded at No. 4, having been apprenticing as the side’s finisher. Jacks missed the New Zealand tour with injury but is back to take over from Jordan Cox (who isn’t in the squad) at No. 7, while Jamie Overton is preferred to Luke Wood and Brydon Carse. Duckett was considered after bruising a finger during the third ODI. Fast bowler Josh Tongue could make his T20I debut at some point on the tour.

England : Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (capt), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.

(Cricinfo)

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Chamuditha’s 110, Akash four-for keep Sri Lanka’s hopes alive in Super Six

Published

22 hours ago

2026/01/29

Priyan

Viran Chamuditha scored a match-winning century (Cricinfo)

Viran Chamuditha’s 94-ball 110 helped Sri Lanka Under 19 chase 262 and keep their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals of the Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026 alive. Sri Lanka will now have to hope Afghanistan lose to Ireland; otherwise, Afghanistan will go through. South Africa on the other hand, have lost all four of their games and are placed fifth in the six-team group.

The day began well for South Africa Under-19, who won the toss, chose to bat and added 96 for the first wicket. Once Vigneshwaran Akash got Adnaan Lagadien, Jorich Van Schalkwyk – the other opener – had to do the bulk of the scoring, with regular wickets falling at the other end.

Akash finished with a four-for and Kavija Gamage got two. There was a missed chance off Van Schalkwyk in the 21st over off Gamage, when he was on 50.

Van Schalkwyk made Sri Lanka pay with a 130-ball 116, featuring 13 fours and two sixes. After he fell, Paul James (37* off 36) and Michael Kruiskamp (21* off 15) gave South Africa a good finish, with an unbeaten 40-run stand off 31 balls.

Sri Lanka’s chase started shakily as Dimantha Mahavithana fell cheaply to Kruiskamp. Chamuditha then began a match-defining 143-run stand off 130 balls with Senuja Wekunagoda. Chamuditha contributed 85 of those run, and brought up his century during his stand with captain Vimath Dinsara, who chipped in with 32 off 38 balls.

Chamuditha finished with 13 boundaries and a six. After he fell, there were two handy partnerships of 31 and an unbeaten 28 between Chamika Heenatigala and Dulnith Sigera, which took Sri Lanka home with four overs to spare.

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka Under 19s 265 for 5 in 46 overs (Viran Chamuditha 110, Senuja Wekunagoda 48, Vimath Dinsara 32; M8chael Kruiskamp 2-59, Come Botha 2-37) beat South Africa Under 19s 261 for 7 in 50 overs (Jorich Van Schalkwyk 116, Adnaan Lagadien 46, Paul James 37* ; Vigneshwaran Akash 4-64, Kavija Gamage 2-61) by five wickets