Sports
Rejected stone becomes corner stone
by Rex Clementine
Jesus’ teachings nearly 2000 years after his death still are highly relevant and we see living examples daily. This week we witnessed one such in sports when Prabath Jayasuriya spun Sri Lanka to a famous victory over Pakistan. Jesus had taught when a man rejects someone that necessarily doesn’t have to be the right decision. At times, ‘the rejected stone can go onto become the cornerstone.’
Last year Prabath had been exiled with questions cast over his fitness. At the age of 30 an international call looked unlikely for him. Then the Sri Lankan camp was hit by Covid and the selectors were left with Hobson’s choice but to recall him. How well he went onto silence his critics.
Those who initiated this strict fitness regime need to give the cricket loving public an apology. It didn’t serve much purpose and only forced a few players to retire from the game prematurely. Sadly, those who made the calls are in hiding, not able to face the public. The selectors have not addressed a media briefing in more than a year now. Their policies remain a mystery.
From being rejected, Prabath now finds himself as the center of attention. There are already talks about the attack being built around him. He’s come a long way having taken 29 wickets in three Tests.
Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood explained the relief when he saw Jayasuriya for the first time on the eve of a Test match. Sri Lanka had lost the first Test against Australia as the spinners were wayward. Prabath was a godsend.
‘I didn’t know a great deal about him before he came over. A few of the guys had played with him and against him. What I did want in the attack was control and they told me that Prabath would bring the best control we had and hence he came in,” Silverwood said.
“The biggest thing for me is that he has really contributed and shown that he can create pressure on the opposition batsmen, he gets balls in good areas and he’s got a lot of wickets. For me he is one whom you can turn to when the game is getting away from you. If you put him on, you know he can dry the runs up and also create opportunities. So from a dynamic point of view he’s been superb for us,” Silverwood added.
“An Opportunity was created through covid and it’s nice to see someone grabbing that opportunity with both hands.”
The remainder of the tenth edition of the PSL has been moved to the UAE amid escalating border tensions between Pakistan and India. The PCB has said that the dates and venues of the remaining eight games in the PSL 2025 season would be officially confirmed in due course.
On Thursday, Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi were due to play a game at the Rawalpindi Stadium, which was rescheduled following an emergency meeting. At the meeting, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with overseas players in the league, who overwhelmingly expressed a desire to relocate the league to the UAE.
ESPNcricinfo understands that foreign players are already on their way out of Pakistan to the UAE, where the rest of the league will be played. It is likely to be several days before the next game is played as the PCB works out which venues to play the games at.
The original schedule would have seen four of the remaining games in Rawalpindi, one in Multan, and the final three in Lahore. An earlier update from the PCB had said the league would be rescheduled, but did not confirm at the time it would be taken out of Pakistan, with Karachi considered a likely option.
The PSL, now in its tenth season, is familiar with the UAE, having started there back in 2016. It was played there in full – barring the PSL 2017 final – for the first two seasons. Part of season six, in 2021, also had to be played in the UAE because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Any delays to the PSL are likely to impact Pakistan’s international calendar, too. Bangladesh are due to arrive in Pakistan three days after the PSL final, originally slated for May 18, with the first of five T20Is to begin on May 25 in Faisalabad. The PCB told ESPNcricinfo that no decision had yet been taken on the fate of that series.
(Cricinfo)
Bangladesh Under 19s won the six-match Youth ODI series 3-2 after the final Youth ODI against Sri Lanka Under 19s ended without a result due to rain at the Colts ground on Thursday.
Sri Lanka came to the final match with the hope of leveling the series but rain prevented a full match.
Deciding to bat first, the visitors were 188 for three wickets in the 40th over when rain prevented further play.
Skipper Azizul Hakim led Bangladesh with 94 runs inclusive of seven fours and two sixes. For the hosts, Tharusha Navodya, Kugathas Mathulan and Himal Ravihansa took a wicket each.
Sri Lanka Under 19s won the opening encounter by a big margin but three consecutive defeats thereafter saw the visitors take command. Sri Lanka Under 19s bounced back in the penultimate match to keep alive the series but rain spoilt their plans in the final encounter.
110 Vision Care Colombo Championships
Apna Perera will meet Ashen Silva in the men’s singles final on Saturday after the duo won their semi-final matches of the 110th Vision Care Colombo Championships continued at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts on Thursday.
Apna Perera beat Iran Hussain 6-4, 6-1 in his semi-final while Ashen Silva beat Mayooran Kubheran 6-1, 6-0.
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