Sports
Sri Lanka attack severely depleted due to injuries
Rex Clementine
at Pallekele
The national cricket team has been delivered several blows leading up to the Asia Cup that will get underway later this week due to a series of injuries. Chris Silverwood has been forced to field a second-string bowling attack after four leading bowlers went down with injuries.
Accordingly, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka and Lahiru Kumara will not feature in the six-nation competition.
Accordingly, Binunra Fernando, Pramod Madushan, Dushan Hemanth and Kasun Rajitha have been named as replacements. None of the four players would have been in the playing eleven if the other four had been available.
Sri Lanka might be even forced scratch the barrel as Fernando and Madushan are prone to injuries and have been rarely tested in the 50 over format over an extended period of time.
A similar scenario occurred during the T-20 World Cup last year in Australia where several players were forced to return home with injuries. The team management provided assurance on that instance to go deep into the injury woes and to ensure that it didn’t repeat. However, it has proved to be a false promise and it remains to be seen what course of action they will take to ensure that the team will be firing on all cylinders for the World Cup.
Sri Lanka’s campaign begins on Thursday with a game against Bangladesh at Pallekele and then the team will fly to Pakistan to take on Afghanistan.
Sri Lanka are in what they call the group of death as they are pitted against two strong teams while India and Pakistan can breathe easy as the third team in their group is Nepal.
Only the top two sides from each group go through to the second round.
Given Sri Lanka’s injury woes, it will be hard task for the team to qualify for the second round, but the good thing is that their batting has been in good nick.
All the four injured bowlers had done extremely well during the Lanka Premier League and Sri Lanka will feel the pinch.
Moreover, the authorities need to at least now properly examine why there are so many injuries, particularly to their quick bowlers. Chameera and Kumara were both injured during the World Cup qualifiers while Madushanka, the most expensive buy in the LPL, has also got a history of injuries.
Top order batsman Kusal Perera is also down with flu and will join the squad only after he recovers fully.
The national cricket team reached Kandy on Sunday to prepare for the tournament. Bangladesh have already arrived in the island while India will arrive this afternoon. Pakistan are expected later this week ahead of the epic clash against arch-rivals India on Saturday.
The Sri Lanka women’s volleyball team, powered by Dialog Axiata is set to depart the country today to compete in the 2026 Central Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship, which will be held from 22 to 29 May with the participation of eight nations from across the region.
The tournament will be played in two preliminary groups, with the Sri Lankan side, captained by Ashani Chamodika, drawn in Group ‘B’ alongside Kazakhstan, Iran and Bangladesh. Group ‘A’ will feature India, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives and hosts Nepal.
Sri Lanka Head Coach Amila Wijepala believes the team is well prepared to face the challenge despite being drawn in a highly competitive group.
“Our group is comparatively more challenging than Group ‘A’. Kazakhstan recently secured third place at the Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship after defeating China, making them our toughest challenge. We are confident of overcoming Bangladesh, while I also believe our players possess the ability to defeat Iran. Our objective is to win at least two matches and qualify for the semi-finals,” he said.
Vice President of the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation, Mahinda Bandara, expressed confidence in the squad and praised the players for their commitment during the preparation period.
“We are fielding a very strong side for this tournament. The players have undergone close to two months of residential training at the Watupitiwala Indoor Stadium. We are grateful to the Ministry of Sports for its invaluable assistance in facilitating this tour. We also sincerely appreciate the continued sponsorship and commitment shown by Dialog Axiata towards Sri Lanka’s national sport and this international campaign,” he said.
The Sri Lanka squad for the Central Asian Women’s Volleyball Championship includes high-ball hitters Dilukshi Harshani, Nimeshika Sewwandi, Preethika Pramodani, Timi Mary, Arana Sanjeewani and Shalu Thilakshana. Short-ball hitters are Sanjeewani Karunaratne, Dilki Nethsara, Sesandi Ruwanya and Piumi Bhashini.
Naduni Nimansala and Kavindi Asanthika will serve as liberos, while captain Ashani Chamodika and Dilki Charuka have been named as setters.
The support staff includes Head Coach Amila Wijepala, Assistant Coach Udaya Rukmal, Trainer Upendra Perera, Women’s Team Officer Renuka Nilmini and Team Manager Mahesh Kariyawasam.
15TH STAFFORD MOTORS – MCA G DIVISION T20 LEAGUE CRICKET TOURNAMENT
Dayan Indunil starred with both bat and ball [86 off 48 balls and 4-10 in 4 overs] to power Brandix Apparel to a 70 run win over Stafford Motors at the Nalanda College grounds on Sunday [17] and qualify for the final of the Stafford Motors sponsored MCA G division T20 cricket tournament.
Invited to bat first on a cloudy day, Brandix were 108/1 at the halfway stage of their innings but were unable to keep up the run rate after the fall of the second wicket and were bowled out for 151. Chasing 152 to qualify for the final, Stafford Motors fell victim to the Brandix bowlers led by Dayan Indunil and Sampath Jayalath and were bowled out for 81 runs in 14.3 overs.
Brandix will meet Maliban Biscuits ‘B’ at the MCA ground next Sunday for the final.
Brief scores:
Brandix Apparel
151/10 in 19.1 overs [Dayan Indunil 86, Sampath Jayalath 14, Sasitha Ashan 13; Janith Maduwantha 3-29, Shanaka Sampath 2-25, Vihanga Malith 1-36, Sanjaya Fernando 1-17, Asanka Kumarage 3-20]
Stafford Motors
81/10 in 14.3 overs [Gajindu Yasas 24, Vihanga Malith 10, Vishwa Rajapaksha 27; Janaka Weerapokuna 1-20, Dayan Indunil 4-10, Sampath Jayalath 3-18, Akila Dhanuddara 2-14]
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