Sports

The Asia Cup jinx

Published

2 years ago

2023/09/17

Charith Asalanka starred in a last ball thriller as Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in the virtual semi-final of the Asia Cup on Thursday to go through to the finals upsetting the organizers plans for an India-Pakistan final.

by Rex Clementine

In 1983, in New Delhi, some of cricket’s famous names such as S.K. Wankhede (India), M.A. Chidambaram (India), I.S. Bindra (India), Jagmohan Dalmiya (India), Gamini Dissanayake (Sri Lanka), Nuzki Mohammad (Sri Lanka), Abdul Rahman Bukhatir (UAE) and Air Marshal Nur Khan (Pakistan) came together to form the Asian Cricket Council. The Asian bloc at that point had little clout with England and Australia enjoying veto powers and step by step they worked meticulously to shift the power base back to Asia. The Asia Cup was a result of this.

If Mr. Gamini Dissanayake was living, he would have wondered whether all this trouble was worth as eventually India grabbed all the power and started dominating world cricket. Some say, rather unkindly, that Mr. Dissanayake helped create a monster. But, the visionary leader he was, he wouldn’t mind this. He would rather have friends at CCI (Cricket Club of India) than at Lord’s.

When the schedule for the current Asia Cup was announced, it was no secret that the organizers and Star Sports, who owned the television rights wanted three India-Pakistan games. Since the 2019 World Cup, the format and in the Asia Cup they were guaranteed to meet twice – in the first round and in the Super Four stage. There was a possibility of a third India – Pakistan game as well if these two teams progressed to the finals.

However, Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka had other ideas as Pakistan were beaten in a last ball thriller.

Everyone wants to see an India – Pakistan final in the Asia Cup. Eyeballs for the big game means millions of US$ through television revenue. But the jinx is that since the inception of Asia Cup, 15 tournaments have been conducted but not a single final has been contested by India and Pakistan. So, this time too Asia Cup doesn’t have a final between the region’s two powerful nations. Every time Sri Lanka are spoiling the organizers plans.

Sri Lanka have now featured in 12 Asia Cup finals while India have been there on ten occasions with Pakistan featuring in only five finals.

It has been a tough few years for Sri Lankan cricket no doubt and there is overwhelming evidence that we are coming out of the gloomy days. Young players like Dunith Wellalage, Charith Asalanka, Maheesh Theekshana and Pathum Nissanka have become crucial members of the Sri Lankan side.

While Wellalage was the cynosure of all eyes against India early this week, Asalanka stole the limelight on Thursday as the game went on well past mid-night. We have been promised great things by both players, two former Sri Lanka Under-19 captains and they are delivering the goods. With World Cup around the corner, these are good signs as well.

Kusal Mendis was under pressure leading up to the tournament following a string of low scores. But he’s played some blinders and two match winning knocks has not only assured his place in the side but put Sri Lanka in the finals too.

With two needed off the last ball in what was a virtual semi-final against Pakistan, any other player would have looked for a big hit to take his team through with the entire nation watching. But such is Asalanka’s maturity, he smartly clipped Zaman Khan behind square for a couple to seal the game having spotted the vacant area.

India will be strong in Sunday’s final and are favourites to win the title. Sri Lanka nearly beat them in the second-round game in a low scoring thriller and here’s another opportunity for them to create a major upset.

Ticket prices sensibly were brought down and RPS will be packed on Sunday hoping for a grand show by their team.

Given the challenging group they were in, people even doubted whether the Sri Lankan side will go beyond the first round after their bowling attack was completely depleted. But how well they have fought, keeping their nerves and pulling off some crunch games. Irrespective of what happens on Sunday, there’s hope for the fans to believe that their team will do something special in the World Cup later this year.

All News Advertisement

Up Next

More questions to answer for India, Sri Lanka in Asia Cup final

Don't Miss

Injured Theekshana out of Asia Cup final, will be fit for World Cup

Click to comment

Latest News

India hit back but Sutherland, Hamilton impress to give Australia the edge

Published

13 hours ago

2026/03/7

Priyan

Lucy Hamilton produced an impressive debut with three wickets [Cricinfo]

Retiring skipper Alyssa Healy fell cheaply late on a bowler-dominated opening day that saw debutants Lucy Hamilton and Sayali Satghare produce spectacular starts to their Test careers.

Thirteen wickets fell on a grassy WACA surface, including Healy who on 13 hit Satghare straight to backward point with 30 minutes left before stumps. Healy trudged off the field – perhaps not for the final time – to a loud ovation as India, fielding four debutants, hit back after being bowled out in 62.4 overs.

Annabel Sutherland, backing up her earlier standout bowling effort, steadied before the close alongside Elllyse Perry, who is playing as a specialist batter after recovering from a quad strain.

After Healy elected to bowl to kick-start her swansong, left-arm quick Hamilton ignited Australia by clean bowling Smriti Mandhana for 4 in a brilliant start to her Test career.

She also claimed the wickets of Jemimah Rodrigues, who top-scored with 52, and Sneh Rana to finish with 3 for 31 off 11 overs in an impressive first up effort after earning selection over uncapped Maitlan Brown.

Australia’s seamers relished the conditions as they swung the pink ball menacingly to cause nightmares for an India side returning to Test cricket for the first time since mid-2024.

Sutherland was unplayable for long stretches as she hooped the ball around to finish with 4 for 46 off 17 overs, figures that could have been even better if not for four dropped catches off her bowling.

Australia’s sloppy performance in the field prolonged India’s first innings and meant they had the tough task of fronting up to bat under lights. Satghare lifted India by knocking over Georgia Voll with a menacing delivery that pitched well outside off-stump before swinging back to hit leg stump.

Fellow debutant Kranti Gaud also had a first wicket to remember when she dismissed Phoebe Litchfield, largely thanks to a brilliant catch from Rodrigues at backward point.

It led to Healy walking out to a mighty ovation, but India weren’t in a generous mood as they clawed back into a contest they must win if they are to draw the multi-series format.

Healy’s day had started brightly when the coin fell in Australia’s favour for the first time in the multi-format series. Her decision to bowl caused a groan in the terraces with fans itching to watch her bat.

But the supporters were soon in full voice when Hamilton, 19, was introduced into the attack in the second over. She came close to a wicket on her fourth delivery but a reviewed lbw shout on opener Shafali Verma was unsuccessful due to an inside edge.

Hamilton only had to wait until her third over to get through Mandhana with a cracking full-pitched delivery that comprehensively beat the bat and smashed into middle stump.

She was mobbed by her teammates before bowling a fierce short delivery to fellow debutant Pratika Rawal, who streakily opened her account through the slip cordon.

Hamilton, who earlier received her baggy green from Beth Mooney, returned the impressive figures of 1 for 12 from five overs in her first spell. But India hung tough with Shafali – maturely resisting her attacking instincts – and Rawal combining well in a rearguard to get through the new ball.

Sutherland entered the attack and started a fabulous bowling performance by cutting short Shafali’s blossoming knock on 35 with a terrific delivery that was caught behind.

It was a reward for Sutherland who had earlier been desperately unlucky not to pick up the wicket of Rawal after Hamilton fumbled in the gully. In what proved to be a costly missed chance, Rodrigues was reprieved by Voll at short-leg on 0 when she fended a fierce short delivery from Sutherland.

But Sutherland was not to be denied after she enticed Rawal into edging to gully where Hamilton hung onto her first catch at Test level. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur started swiftly before her off-stump was knocked by a pearler from Darcie Brown as India entered the tea break in trouble at 99 for 4.

Sutherland continued to be irrepressible after the resumption and dismissed Deepti Sharma with a length ball as the pressure heightened on Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh, who was purely in survival mode early in her innings.

Local hero Alana King was held back until the 40th over and Rogrigues decided it was time to put the foot down, counterattacking to devastating effect with four consecutive boundaries.

She sped to her half-century off 74 balls with the milestone reached in fitting style with a gorgeous drive as she continued to take a liking to King’s legspin.

Just when the partnership started to gather momentum, Ghosh threw it away when she hit a dragged down delivery from Ashleigh Gardner straight to short midwicket before Rodrigues tamely flicked a loose delivery from Hamilton to square leg.

Hamilton bagged Rana as India spiraled to 157 for 8 before debutant Kashvee Gautam attacked just like she had done during the ODI series. She eventually ran out of support with Sutherland claiming her fourth wicket when she dismissed Satghare.

The hectic day’s play also launched a new era at the revamped WACA ground with most spectators nestled in the rare shaded areas – still an issue even after the redevelopment – as the temperature peaked at 37 degree Celsius with a similar forecast set for day two.

Brief scores: [Stumps Day 1]
Australia Women 96 for 3 in 27 overs (Ellyse Perry 43*, Annabel Sutherland 20*; Kranti Gaud 2-28) trail India Women 198 in 62.4 overs (Shafali Verma 35, Jemmimah Rodrigues 52, Kasnvee Gautam 34*; Darcie Brown 2-41, Annabel Sutherland 4-46, Lucy Hamilton 3-31) by 102 runs

[Cricinfo]

Sports

St. John’s four wickets away from victory

Published

15 hours ago

2026/03/7

Thilina Walpola

St. John’s College, Jaffna were just four wickets away from victory at stumps on day two of the Battle of Jaffna Big Match at the Central College Groud Jaffna on Friday.

‎St. John’s restricted their arch rivals to 120 for six wickets after a valuable century by Uthayanan Abijoyshanth helped them post 247 runs.

‎Uthayanan’s century was the highlight on the second day as he almost singlehandedly guided the destiny of the visiting team.

‎He faced just 105 balls for his 121 as he struck 15 fours and four sixes in his knock before being given lbw to Murali Thison who took seven wickets.

‎Thison completed a match bag of 12 wickets with his big haul of wickets in the second innings.

‎While Central were largely depending on Thison for wickets in both innings, St. John’s were sharing bowling honours.

‎Despite having in their ranks Sri Lanka Under 19 paceman Kugathas Mathulan, St. John’s saw Ganeshamoothy Kowsikan (5/41) and Murfin Randyo (3/19) sharing bowling honours in the first inning.

‎Mathulan took his first wicket of the match in the afternoon on Friday.

Sports

Jamie Siddons appointed Sri Lanka Women head coach

Published

1 day ago

2026/03/6

Priyan

Jamie Siddons has over two decades of high-level coaching experience (Cricinfo)

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has appointed former Australian cricketer Jamie Siddons as the new head coach of the the women’s team. Siddons, a Level 3 qualified coach, will officially begin his one-year tenure on March 16, 2026.

Siddons takes over from outgoing coach Rumesh Ratnayake, who had quietly concluded his tenure at the end of 2025. And he will be building on some solid foundations.

Appointed in February 2023, Ratnayake oversaw the transformation of the women’s team from bottom-of-the-table scrappers to a regularly competitive force.

While they remain a notch below top tier sides such as Australia and India in terms of consistency, under his guidance, Sri Lanka secured their best-ever return – a historic Asia Cup title in 2024, defeating India in the final.

The inconsistency of the side however was on display throughout his term, as the team struggled at the 2024 T20 World Cup, exiting in the group stage without a win. And despite other highs, including series wins against South Africa and England, the side seemed to have plateaud following a middling home 50-over home World Cup in October.

Siddons however will be taking over a youthful side in the midst of a good run of form, with them this month completing ODI and T20I series wins against West Indies.

His immediate focus will be preparing the squad for the Women’s T20 World Cup set to be held in England this June. His first official assignment is a tour of Bangladesh in April-May.

He brings over two decades of high-level coaching experience to the role, most notably serving as the head coach of the Bangladesh men’s side from 2007-2011, where he lead them to their first overseas Test series win against West Indies.

“Siddons has also served as Head Coach of the South Australia Cricket Team (Redbacks) from 2015 to 2020 and Head Coach of the Wellington Firebirds, New Zealand, from 2011 to 2015,” added an SLC media release.

In his playing career Siddons was a prolific run-scorer in Australian domestic cricket, captaining both South Australia and Victoria, finishing his career with over 10,000 Sheffield Shield runs.

(Cricinfo)