Sports
Snubbing KJP; a Hobson’s choice
by Rex Clementine
Sri Lanka have named their squad for the ICC T-20 World Cup and some big names that featured in T-20 sides in recent outings have been given the cold shoulder. The most notable of them all is former captain Kusal Janith Perera. Perhaps the fiercest striker of the cricket ball in Sri Lankan colours currently, KJP has hardly had an impact in internationals after returning to the side from injury.
Given his seniority, reputation and the impact he can make in T-20 cricket, leaving KJP out of the side would have been a tough call, but the most important criteria in selections is form and KJP didn’t fit the bill. At the age of 33, you just hope that he doesn’t throw in the towel but hangs in there and bounces back strongly.
Avishka Fernando is another notable exclusion from the side. A very exciting talent with lots of time to play his shots, Avishka has the ability to turn a game on its head within a matter of few overs. But he’s been completely out of sort in recent internationals and although there were some sparkling knocks in the World Cup preparation competition, his inadequacies while facing left-arm swing bowling had been exposed in Bangladesh.
Left-arm seamer Binura Fernando was another player to be overlooked after featuring in the T-20 side in recent series. Nuwan Thushara, who impressed with a hat-trick in Sri Lanka’s recent outing has been preferred over Fernando.
Sri Lanka’s fast bowling is in good hands with Dushmantha Chameera returning to the side fully fit. He will spearhead the attack that will include young fast bowling sensation Matheesha Pathirana while left-arm quick Dilshan Madushanka returns after injury.
Former captains Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka provide back up in the bowling department while Dhananjaya de Silva provides a spin bowling option.
How Sri Lanka will use DDS remains to be seen. With the top six set and Kamindu Mendis providing a spin bowling option, you wonder whether DDS would fit into the scheme of things.
Dunith Wellalage is the only uncapped player in the squad. Although Wellalage has featured regularly in the 50 over format, he is yet to represent Sri Lanka in the shortest format of the game. The former Sri Lanka Under-19 captain had a good outing with the ball during the World Cup preparation competition.
Captain Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana are the team’s leading spin bowlers. Hasaranga missed the IPL due to injury and in recent domestic games has played as a specialist batsman. Since assuming duties as captain, more than as a bowler, Hasaranga has had an impact in his new role as a floater coming up the order and giving the team some quick runs.
Theekshana’s ability to bowl in the Power Plays is a big advantage and he will be the player to watch during the competition.
Sri Lanka’s batting revolves around Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Kamindu Mendis. Together with them, Angelo Mathews forms the top six.
Sri Lanka will leave for the World Cup on 14th May, two weeks ahead of the competition, to begin their preparations. They are pooled in Group ‘D’ along with South Africa, Bangladesh, Netherlands and Nepal. Their first game in the competition is against the Proteas on the 3rd June in New York.
Sri Lanka Squad:
Wanindu Hasaranga (Captain), Charith Asalanka (Vice-Captain), Kusal Mendis (Wicketkeeper), Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Dilshan Madushanka
Travelling reserves:
Asitha Fernando, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Janith Liyanage
Under 19 Cricket
Left-arm spinners Vishwa Peiris and Demion de Silva took five wickets each as St. Joseph’s cruised to an innings and 51 runs victory over St. Benedict’s in the Traditional Mack – Croner trophy cricket encounter at Darley Road on Tuesday.
St. Benedict’s came to the match having done well in the Tier B tournament matches but the spin might of the Joes was too hot for them to handle as they collapsed for 62 runs in the second innings.
The result somewhat exposed the gap between the Tier A and Tier B teams of the Under 19 Division I category as the team from Kotahena were bowled out within 25 overs. They were following on after being dismissed for 197 runs in the first innings, where Nushan Perera grabbed five wickets bowling the bulk of the overs for the Joes. He was adjudged the Best Bowler.
While Vishwa was the Man of the Match, Rishma Amarasinghe (Best Fielder) and Senuja Wakunugoda (Best Batsman) won the other individual awards.
The Joes made 313 in their innings with Senuja top scoring with 106 runs.
In the Division I Tier ‘A’ matches Gurukula (against St. Sebastian’s) and St. Anthony’s Katugastota (against Royal) registered first innings victories.
Maliyadeva took first innings points against De Mazenod in a tier B match.
(RF)
Organisers of the ICC T20 World Cup are sweating over after Pakistan refused to play nuclear-armed neighbours India in Colombo, a decision that has left administrators scratching their heads and staring at a potential financial googly.
The India–Pakistan contest, the jewel in the tournament’s crown, is the game that oils cricket’s economic engine. If the marquee clash is bowled out, the loss of revenue will have every stakeholder feeling the pinch from boardroom to boundary rope. Islamabad’s call to withdraw, taken at government level, has sparked fears the verdict will not be overturned.
Anticipation for the grudge match had reached fever pitch. Tickets vanished on day one of sales, while Colombo’s hotels were snapped up quickly. Five-star rooms that normally fetch 150 US dollars were hiked to 600 USD, some even soaring to 800 USD as the city braced for a carnival.
With the capital full to the rafters, tour operators shuttled visitors to nearby Negombo, an hour’s drive from the stadium, while others opted for apartments as accommodation ran dry. Flights, too, were booked well in advance, but uncertainty over the epic duel has now cast a long shadow.
“We haven’t had many cancellations yet, but we fear the worst. Everyone will take a hit if the game doesn’t take place,” aviation industry official Thusitha Perera told Telecom Asia Sport.
Gihan Wickramasinghe, representing Colombo’s hoteliers, echoed the concern. “Our hope is the match goes ahead. If not, we’ll have to refund bookings and the tour operators will be hit even harder.”
Tour operator Lisa Fernando said the anxiety was mounting. “Two groups from Dubai alone, 75 people, were coming. Corporate clients had planned trips down south as well. There’s a lot of money at stake and so much unnecessary stress.”
Indian fan Varun Kumar from Bangalore has already paid for flights and hotels but intends to travel regardless. “Sri Lanka has been on my bucket list. Whether the match happens or not, we’ll come to experience the country,” he said.
Sri Lanka Cricket remains optimistic the contest will be rescued before the final over is called. But if the showpiece is scratched, it would be a hammer blow to an economy only just finding its feet after years of setbacks, leaving the tournament badly caught behind.
SSC Open Tennis Championship 2026
Zacharia Akbar and Thishya Banagala were crowned champions in the Under 12 boys’ and girls’ singles respectively of the SSC Open Tennis Championships in Colombo.
In the boys final, Zacharia Akbar beat Kashya Seneviratne 6-2, 2-6, 6-4. The S.Thomas’ College player reached the finals with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Satheesh Appathuri in the semi-finals.
The Under 12 girls’ final saw Thishya Banagala beat Thiyansa de Silva 7-5, 6-2.
The Visakha Vidyalaya player reached the final after a 6-4, 6-4 win over Manuli Seneviratne in the semis.
Zacharia Akbar (Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi)
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