Former Sri Lanka head coach Mickey Arthur has voiced disappointment over remarks made by Chairman of Selectors Pramodya Wickramasinghe, who last week claimed that Arthur was reluctant to include a young Pathum Nissanka during Sri Lanka’s tour of the Caribbean in 2021.

In his first media briefing, Wickramasinghe said it was he who pushed for Nissanka’s inclusion despite Arthur’s reservations. The former coach has flatly denied the allegation, calling it wide of the mark.

“I am very disappointed with Pramodya’s comments,” Arthur told Telecom Asia Sport. “The right people know exactly how I felt about Pathum. There was never any doubt that he was our future. I don’t want any credit for Pathum’s success. That belongs entirely to his hard work. I simply gave him an opportunity because the talent was impossible to ignore.”

Arthur said Nissanka’s domestic form had left little room for debate. “He was scoring runs for fun and the sheer weight of them made it impossible not to take a look. Once he joined the squad on tour, his attitude and work ethic were truly remarkable. From that moment, there was no doubt this bloke was going places,” Arthur added.

Even before Nissanka’s elevation to the senior side, Arthur had publicly spoken of his admiration for young prospects such as Nissanka and Charith Asalanka, stressing the importance of giving emerging players a long rope. His view was simple: once talent is identified and the attitude checks out, selectors and team management must back those players through thick and thin.

Arthur arrived in Sri Lanka with a formidable résumé, having coached South Africa, Australia and Pakistan. He placed a premium on fitness and fielding and under his watch a team in transition began to show signs of turning the corner. At the end of his tenure, Arthur opted not to renew his contract and instead took up a stint in English county cricket with Derbyshire.

As for Nissanka, he has scarcely put a foot wrong since breaking into the side. There was a Test hundred on debut in the West Indies, followed last year by a match-winning unbeaten century against England at The Oval on a lively seaming pitch. In between, he made history by becoming the first Sri Lankan to score a double hundred in ODIs. Last week, he was snapped up by Delhi Capitals at the IPL auction.

Nissanka is currently ranked third in T20 internationals and is knocking on the door of the top ten in both Tests and ODIs.

73rd National Badminton Championship

Defending champions Viren Nettasinghe and Ranithma Liyanage made a fitting end to their campaigns of the 2025 season, by defending the Men’s and Women’s Open Singles titles as Varangana Jayawardana and Rashmi Mudalige clinched the Women’s Open Doubles title at the 73rd National Badminton Championship, concluded at the S. Thomas’ College Indoor Sports Complex, Mount Lavinia on Wednesday (24).

‎Viren clinically overcame each of his opponents from the Round of 32, all in straight sets, to reach the final. The country’s top Men’s Singles shuttler continued his form against Rasindu Hendahewa in the final, winning in straight sets to defend the title. Viren defeated Rasindu 21-10 and 21-14 to win his second national title in style.

‎Ranithma aptly defended her Women’s Open Singles title by recording a comfortable straight sets win against Rashmi Mudalige in an absorbing final that lasted nearly 45 minutes. Though the title decider stretched way longer than anticipated, Ranithma managed to seal the victory by recording set wins of 21-12 and 21-18 to claim the national title for the second year running.

‎Fourth seed pair Sanuda Ariyasinghe and Thisath Rupathunga created an upset by toppling top seeds Oshamika Karunarathne and Thulith Palliyaguru in a lengthy final that went down to the wire in the Men’s Open Doubles. Sanuda and Thisath won the first set 21-15, but the top pair bounced back to level the game one-all with a 21-18 win. But the gritty pair of Sanuda and Thisath maintained their composure to overcome the favourites 21-15 in the decider and claim the Men’s Open Doubles title.

‎Varangana Jayawardana and Rashmi Mudalige completed a successful campaign to defend the Women’s Open Doubles title from last year, this time overcoming the aspiring pair of Dilni Ambalangodage and Ranumi Manage in straight sets. Varangana and Rashmi remained unbeaten throughout, as they ended the unblemished run of Dilni and Ranumi with set wins of 21-13 and 21-18.

‎The Mixed Open Doubles title was claimed by Thulith Palliyaguru and Panchali Adhikari, who battled for 45 minutes to overcome Aashinsa Herath and Rashmi Mudalige 2-1 in the final. After conceding the first set by 12-21, Thulith and Panchali regrouped to claim the next two sets 21-18 and 21-15.

Paceman Sehandu Sooriyaarachchi and spinner Himaru Deshan rattled Nalanda for the second time as Royal registered an innings and 65 runs victory in the Under 19 Division I tier A match ended with a session remaining at Campbell Place on Wednesday.

‎Sooriyaarachchi completed a match bag of nine wickets and Deshan picked up three wickets each in the two innings as Nalanda were dismissed for 94 and 101 runs.

‎It was the first victory of the season for Royal.

‎Royal in innings win at Campbell Place

‎Scores

‎Royal 260 all out in 70.3 overs (Hirun Liyanarachchi 38, Rehan Peiris 49, Yasindu Dissanayake 73, Thevindu Wewalwala 23, Manuth Dissanayake 37, Himaru Deshan 21; Malsha Fernando 5/73, Dunitha Anusara 2/42, Sahash Godage 2/54)

‎Nalanda 74 for 9 overnight 94 all out in 25 overs (Ranmith Dinuwara 30; Sehandu Sooriyaarachchi 5/47, Himaru Deshan 3/05) and 101 all out in 46 overs (Osanda Pamuditha 34n.o.; Sehandu Sooriyaarachchi 4/10, Himaru Deshan 3/30, Ramiru Perera 2/26)

‎Mahanama on first innings win at Mattegoda

‎Scores

‎Mahanama 314 in 79.4 overs (Eshan Withanage 71, Yashen Gunathilake 63, Kaushika Thilakarathne 48, Sithum Vihanga 39, Venura Kaveethra 31, Sineth Veerarathne 22, Gimantha Dissanayake 20; Manitha Rajapaksha 4/85, Arosha Udayanga 3/76, Sehas Ashinsa 2/46)

‎Mahinda 33 for 1 overnight 163 all out in 53.1 overs

(Randula Mabarana 40, Dulsith Darshana 26, Manitha Rajapaksha 20; Thenuja Rashmin 2/56, Venura Kaveethra 3/31, Sithum Vihanga 5/37) and 132 for 5 in 53 overs (Thevindu Rashmika 54, Randula Mabarana 35n.o. ; Kaushika Thilakarathne 3/09)

by Reemus Fernando