Sports

The curious case of Sadeera Samarawickrama

Published

2 years ago

2023/10/23

Thilina Walpola

Sadeera Samarawickrama

by Rex Clementine

These days selectors are appointed on club loyalties or personal friendships. There was a move a few years ago to bring Marvan Atapattu as the Chairman of Selectors. One legend resisted. He didn’t want Marvan there. The reason being that there would have been no place to carry out his agendas with Marvan at the helm. Instead, he pleaded with the powers that be to install a puppet. Since then, we have all been treated with a puppet show. It’s been a comedy of errors! It truly has been.

We have had some fantastic chief selectors overs the years. There was Mr. Michael Tissera, who was instrumental in bringing Aravinda de Silva back into the fold. Aravinda had given up hopes of making a comeback, but Mr. Tissera offered him a chance on one condition, get fitter and bat at number four for Sri Lanka again. The rest is history.

That’s what a selector should do. International sportsmen have big egos and sometimes you don’t see eye to eye with them. Confrontation may work with some players, but not all. As Mr. Tissera used to say, ‘there are many ways to skin a cat.’

We also had Ashantha de Mel, who very smartly detected that Kumar Sangakkara will be better off as a specialist batsman in Test match cricket than wicketkeeper batsman and it proved to be a masterstroke. De Mel by the way was Chairman of Selectors when Sri Lanka became the first Asian nation to win a Test series in South Africa.

Then there was late Guy de Alwis, bless him, who feared no one. He took over at a time when there was undue political influence being placed on team selections. Guy resisted them all and had an honourable exit refusing to carry out the Sports Minister’s request. Guy de Alwis was a rare breed.

Graham Labrooy became chief selector in 2017. Out of the blue, he picked Sadeera Samarawickrama, who was 21 at that time. Sadeera had not scored heavily in domestic cricket. He wasn’t a permanent fixture in the ‘A’ team either. But Labrooy was convinced that he had seen all the right attitudes in young Sadeera.

A player who loved to attack, was excellent on the field, gave you the wicketkeeper’s option, trained hard and remained grounded. That type of young player like Sadeera was very much the need of the hour Labrooy felt as there were too many young players who were getting into trouble for their off the field activities.

Labrooy was proved right. During Sri Lanka’s tour of India in 2017 former great V.V.S. Laxman spoke so highly of Sadeera and so did Indian captain Virat Kohli.

Sadeera was fielding at short leg in the Delhi Test when he copped a nasty blow to his head from Kohli. Instead of retiring to the comforts of the dressing room, Sadeera carried on regardless. Kohli liked that attitude even though it had come from the opposition camp.

But there was a complete overhaul in 2018. The selectors changed, team management changed and there was a new Head Coach. Sadeera was given the cold shoulder.

It has taken Sadeera six more years to cement his place in the side. Quite strange indeed for in those six years our players haven’t been covering themselves in glory. We had tried many young players during that period with little success. Some of the promising players had got into trouble multiple times and had got suspended. But we even tolerated them time and again.

In the meantime, poor Sadeera suffered in silence. It goes onto show that how badly our selectors have managed the national cricket team. Anyone who watches Sadeera train or carries himself off the field should have got convinced that here is a player who needs to be preserved with. Sadly we did not. Perhaps, Sadeera didn’t represent the right club in domestic cricket.

A move from Park Road to the right Maitland Place club would have helped him to get a break and a permanent slot much earlier.

At halfway mark of the World Cup, Sadeera is not only Sri Lanka’s highest run getter but the sixth top run scorer in the competition.

There are often complains that our system doesn’t produce players who are capable to face the demands of international cricket. Sadeera has proved it wrong. There are players who can produce results at the highest level. Just that they need to be picked and backed.

At the age of 28, Sadeera has played just 27 ODIs. Had we preserved with Labrooy’s policies, Sadeera would have by now played over 150 ODIs and won us lot more games. Better late than never though. Now that Sadeera is here, let’s enjoy his batsmanship and his excellence on the field. You can be guaranteed that here is a player who will not get into trouble on or off the field. This kid is so focused on his game. Sri Lanka badly needs players like him. He can be our Virat Kohli.

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Sports

Hasaranga backs Sri Lanka for World Cup semi-final push

Published

8 hours ago

2026/01/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sri Lanka’s leg-spin spearhead Wanindu Hasaranga has warned rivals not to write off the hosts ahead of the World Cup, after his four-wicket burst in the final T20I against Pakistan helped Sri Lanka square the three-match series on Sunday.

Hasaranga’s spell turned the game on its head and restored belief in a side that has blown hot and cold. Speaking after being named Player of the Match and Player of the Series, the leg-spinner said Sri Lanka, buoyed by home conditions, remain very much in the hunt for a semi-final berth.

Under head coach Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka have made steady strides over the past 18 months. There have been a few distractions recently like changes in selectors and captaincy among them, but the dressing room, Hasaranga insisted, is quietly confident.

“We know the conditions and we’ve grown up playing in these conditions,” Hasaranga said. “If we use them well, we can have a major impact. Players need to identify their roles. Once that happens, we can put on a good show.”

Sunday’s decider was reduced to 12 overs a side after rain delayed the start by more than two hours, but Hasaranga felt the shortened contest still offered valuable lessons.

“Today we looked good,” he said. “We’ve been lacking a bit of consistency in recent years. In a World Cup, you have to minimise mistakes and keep moving forward.”

Bowling with a wet ball tested the spinners’ skills and patience, but Hasaranga viewed it as useful match practice rather than an inconvenience.

“It was challenging with a wet ball,” he explained. “But it’s good these things happen before a World Cup. It prepares you for all kinds of situations. I even spoke to our batters about what deliveries they’d prefer to face, and that input helped when we went out to defend.”

Sri Lanka now enjoy a week’s breather before hosting England with Hasaranga keen to see his side peak at the right time.

“When this series started, we had six games leading into the World Cup,” he said. “Rain in Dambulla meant things didn’t always go to plan. As a team, we wanted winning momentum. There are only a couple of games left now and we need to be firing on all cylinders when the World Cup begins.”

Sri Lanka had stumbled in the opener, losing by six wickets after being bowled out inside 20 overs, while the second match was washed out without a toss. A 14-run win in the final game, however, ensured honours ended even.

Rex Clementine
in Dambulla

Sports

Sunil Gunawardana among contenders for top post of Sri Lanka Athletics

Published

8 hours ago

2026/01/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

It will be a four-way battle for the top post of Sri Lanka Athletics as fresh nominations for the election of office bearers closed at the Sports Ministry on Monday. Former president Sunil Gunawardana, Bimal Wijesinhge, Sugath Kumara and Prasanna Indika are the nominees for the post of president and they are subjected to objections.

‎This is the second time the Ministry of Sports called for nominations after different stakeholders successfully challanged the earlier niminations alleging that there were errors in the process.

‎Informed sources said that this time too the Ministry of Sports has left enough room for allegations as it announced the names of the nominees without waiting for the nominations sent by post.

‎”There was a fundamental error as they did not wait for nominations sent by post. They informed the stake holders by post. Some member federations had received the letters only on last Thursday. They were in a mighty hurry to announce the names of the nominees soon after the nominations closed,” a source close to athletics told The Island.

‎Following are the nominees for various posts of Sri Lanka Athletics.

‎‎President: Sunil Gunawardana, Bimal Wijesinhge, Prasanna Indika, Sugath Kumara

‎‎Vice President: Prasanna Indika, Lal Chandrakumara, Lt. Col. G.N. Jayathilaka, Irangani Rupasinghe, Jagath Silva, G.J. Siyamudali, Prasanna Aluvihare

‎‎Secretary: Dr. Dhammika Senanayake, Sameera Perera, Madawa Herath

‎Asst. Secretary: Sameera Perera, Aloy Wickramasinghe (RF)

Sports

Lakmal, Pravina win trophies at Eagles Monsoon Cup Golf Tournament

Published

8 hours ago

2026/01/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

Wing Commander Lakmal Gunewardene (Retd) won the Eagles’ Monsoon Cup Trophy. (L) / Pravina Dunuwille emerged as the Ladies' Trophy winner. (R)

Wing Commander Lakmal Gunewardene (Retd) secured the Eagles’ Monsoon Cup Trophy, achieving the highest score in the gents’ category and Pravina Dunuwille emerged as the Ladies’ Trophy winner at the fourth edition of the Eagles Monsoon Cup Golf Tournament which came to a close at the picturesque China Bay, near the harbour city of Trincomalee.

‎The Sri Lanka Air Force, in collaboration with Eagles’ Golf Links and Courses, successfully conducted the fourth edition of the Eagles’ Monsoon Cup Golf Tournament on Sunday.

‎The tournament, conducted under the Stableford Scoring System, commenced in the morning with the participation of 80 enthusiastic golfers, including 13 women golfers. The tournament was officially inaugurated when one of the former Commanders of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody, took the first tee-off.

‎Wing Commander Nalin Bentharaarachchi (Retd) claimed the Runner-up position in the Gents’ category, and Niloo Jayathilake was awarded the Ladies’ Runner-up position. In addition, Buddika Amarasinghe and Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody received accolades for the Longest Drive and Nearest to the Pin, respectively, in the Gents’ category, while Sandra Cadien secured the Longest Drive in the Ladies’ category. The Wooden Spoon was awarded to Nimal Jayasinghe.

‎The Eagles’ Monsoon Defence Challenge Trophy, presented to members of the Tri-Services in the Men’s category, was won by Wing Commander Asantha Gunaratne from the SLAF. Lieutenant Commander Mevan Perera from the SL Navy was the Runner-up of the Defence Challenge Trophy. Commodore Mangala Mummullage received the award for the Longest Drive in the Defence Challenge category.

‎The Best Total Net Score in the Six Hidden Holes competition segment was achieved by Wing Commander Lakmal Gunewardene (Retd) and Group Captain Prabath Wijekoon received the Commander’s Island Green Award for the 2025 year’s Eagles’ Monsoon Cup iteration.

‎The awards of the Eagles’ Monsoon Cup were presented at a gala Awards Ceremony held at Eagles’ Golf Links during the evening of the same day. The Director General Air Operations, Air Vice Marshal Dhammika Dias, graced the Awards Ceremony as the Chief Guest. Further, Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkodi, Chairman of SLAF Golf, Air Commodore Erandika Gunewardene, Secretary of Air Force Golf Links and Courses, Group Captain Asanka Rathnayake, Secretary of Air Force Golf, Wing Commander Thushan Fernando, Sales Manager of Aviyana Ceylon Resorts, Suranga Fernando (representing the Chairman of Aviyana Ceylon Resorts) and other golf enthusiasts attended the ceremony.

‎Adding to the prestige of the occasion, Aviyana Ceylon Resorts sponsored the tournament, enhancing its grandeur and providing a memorable experience for all participants.‎