Sports

Rain stops India – Pakistan Asia Cup clash

Published

3 years ago

2023/09/11

Rain has created havoc in this Asia Cup and after smooth sailing in the Sri Lanka versus Bangladesh clash on Saturday, the epic India-Pakistan encounter yesterday was interrupted by rain forcing the umpires to stop play at 4:52 pm here at RPS.

The ground staff cleared up the playing field and an inspection was due to take place at 7:30 pm when this edition went to print.

India had reached 147 for two in 24.1 overs when a heavy downpour forced the umpires to stop play.

India were put into bat after Babar Azam won the toss. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave their side a terrific start adding 121 runs for the first wicket in just 100 deliveries.

India’s top order had struggled against Pakistan’s pace attack in the group game between the teams in Kandy last week and a good start was vital yesterday.

Rohit was slow off the blocks, but the introduction of spin got him going as he cut loose hitting Shadab Khan for two consecutive sixes and a four.

Rohit reached his half-century in the next over of Shadab, pulling the leg-spinner for six over mid-wicket. His half-century came off just 42 balls.

Gill, meanwhile, was confident against the quicks and had brought up his half-century in only 37 balls with ten fours.

The partnership was broken soon after the drinks break. Rohit attempted to hit Shadab over covers, but ended up hitting straighter and Fahim Ashraf sprinting to his left from long-off took a good catch.

Soon in the next over both India’s openers were back in the pavilion. Gill failed to spot a cutter from Shaheen and was too early on his shot and ended up spooning an easy catch to Agha Salman at covers.

Virat Kohli was unbeaten on eight while K.L. Rahul was 17 not out when the rain came down.

India did two changes to the side that beat Nepal in their last game bringing in Rahul in place of Shreyas Iyer, who was down with back spasms while Jasprit Bumrah replaced Mohammad Shami. Bumrah had flown back home due to personal reasons after India’s group game against Pakistan.

Pakistan, meanwhile, opted for an unchanged side.

The group game between these sides at Pallekele was washed out by rain.

The spectator turnout throughout the tournament has been low due to high ticket prices. Around 25,000 tickets of the 35,000-capacity stadium were unsold and the authorities were forced to bring the ticket prices down significantly half an hour before start of play.

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Colombo Kaps down Dambulla Sixers by 21 runs

Published

6 hours ago

2026/07/26

Priyan

Colombo Kaps defended 197 runs to win the 12th match of the Lanka Premier League by restricting Dambulla Sixers to 176/8 at the Dambulla International Cricket Stadium on Saturday [25] night.

SCORES:
Colombo Kaps 197/5 in 20 overs [Rubin Hermann 39, Sadeera Samarawickrema 16, Sharujan Shanmuganathan 12, Kamindu Mendis 88*, Ben McDermott 14, Janith Liyanage 17; Fazalhaq Farooki 1-41, Dushmantha Chameera 1-41, Ramesh Mendis 1-05, Gulabdin Naib 1-15]
Dambulla Sixers 176/8 in 20 overs [Pavan Rathnayake 50, Marques Ackerman 40, Gulabdin Naib 28, Maheesh Thhekshana 13; Shahnawaz Dahani 2-20, Wanuja Sahan 1-34, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2-33, Malsha Tharupathi 1-26, Milan Rathnayake 1-26]

Latest News

Kandy Royals win by 11 runs

Published

7 hours ago

2026/07/26

Priyan

Nuwan Thushara starred with three wickets

Kandy Royals’ bowlers led by Nuwan Thushara were able to defend their score of 165 to win the 11th match of the Lanka Premier League by defeating Galle Gallants by 11 runs at Dambulla on Saturday.

SCORES:
Kandy Royals 165/6 in 20 overs [Lahiru Udara 16, Dale Phillips 34, Wanidu Hasaranga 16, Moeen Ali 41, Angelo Mathews 28, Vijay Shankar 15; Pramod Madushan 2-41, Akif Javed 2-26, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 2-36]

Galle Gallants 154/8 in 20 overs [Sam Harper 14, Charith Asalanka 14, Chamika Karunarathne 52, Dasun Shanaka 57*; Nuwan Thushara 3-33, Asitha Fernando 2-33, Moeen Ali 1-11, Wanidu Hasaranga 1-26]

Sports

Jaffna Kings LPL side under SLC purview

Published

13 hours ago

2026/07/26

Thilina Walpola

Jaffna Kings former co-owner Manjot Kalra is in judicial custody until July 31

Innovative Production Group (IPG), the tournament rights holder of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), in consultation with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), has terminated the franchise agreement with Sports Commune, which was granted franchise rights of the Jaffna Kings.

The termination follows the franchisee’s inability to fulfil its financial obligations under the terms of the franchise agreement. As a result, all rights relating to the Jaffna Kings franchise have reverted to IPG, which, together with Sri Lanka Cricket, has assumed full operational control of the team.

IPG confirms that the 6th edition of the LPL will proceed as scheduled and Jaffna Kings will continue to participate in the tournament under the same nomenclature, with no changes to the squad, tournament format, or match schedule.

To ensure the uninterrupted operation of the franchise, IPG and Sri Lanka Cricket have taken complete responsibility for all player, coaching staff, and support staff contracts. The organizers also confirm that all logistical arrangements for the team have been secured, ensuring the squad is intact for the tournament.

Furthermore, approximately 90% of all player and staff payments have already been completed, with the remaining payments to be settled in accordance with contractual commitments.

IPG and Sri Lanka Cricket remain committed to delivering a successful sixth edition of the Lanka Premier League while upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and transparency for players, teams, commercial partners, and fans.