Sports
Yodasinghe shines bright to secure semi-final spot
World Indoor Championship
Sprinter Chamod Yodasinghe reached the semi-finals of the 60 metres dash with a remarkable sprint performance on day one of the World Indoor Athletics Championship in Nanjing China on Friday.
Competing in heat two the athlete trained by Sanjeewa Weerakkody clocked a blistering time of 6.70 seconds shared by USA’s Coby Hilton and Switzerland’s William Reais. The trio were separated by photofinish with Coby Hilton, William Reais and Yodasinghe given first, second and third places respectively.
In the semi-finals which was worked off in the afternoon, Yodasinghe finished last.
Yodasinghe’s heat performance was ranked 24th among a field of 58 athletes who faced starter’s orders in eight heats.
His impressive achievement was a massive consolation for Sri Lanka after 400 metres specialist Kalinga Kumarage missed his heat due to a technical issue. Secretary of Sri Lanka Athletics said that Kumarage could not collect his accreditation in time to take part in the heat. He was scheduled to compete in the fifth heat which was won by Canada’s Morales Williams (45.85secs). Only two qualified from that heat. While the second placed Jacory Paterson of USA clocked 45.94 seconds others failed to finish under 47 seconds.
Sri Lanka’s contingent of 12 athletes is the biggest by the country to a World Indoor Athletics Championship. While Yodasinghe, Kumarage and Kaveesha Bandara compete in individual events, others will take part in the men’s and women’s 4×400 metres relay finals.
Former Royal College Colombo hurdler Bandara will compete in the 60 metres hurdles today (Saturday).
The men’s and women’s 4×400 metres relays will take place on Sunday.
In the morning, the championships’ first gold medal was won by Italy’s Andy Diaz Hernandez who soared to a world lead and national record of 17.80m in the men’s triple jump.
That feat moved him to fifth on the world indoor all-time list, the mark is the third-farthest leap in World Indoor Championships history and the farthest since the 17.90m – then a world indoor record – achieved by Teddy Tamgho at the 2010 edition in Doha
Three years after taking gold in Belgrade, Woo Sanghyeok won his second world indoor high jump title. The Korean was the only athlete to go clear at 2.31m, doing so on his first try. Defending champion and Olympic gold medallist Hamish Kerr was second with 2.28m, taking silver on countback ahead of Jamaica’s Raymond Richards.
by Reemus Fernando
Under 19 Cricket
An unbeaten century by Pulisha Thilakarathne powered Trinity to 222 runs for two wickets at stumps after Thisal Yapa led the bowling attack with a four wicket haul to restrict St. Benedict’s to 147 runs on day one of the traditonal Under 19 cricket encounter at Asgiriya.
Thilakarathne scored 17 fours and a six in his run a ball knock. Thilakarathne was involved in a second wicket stand of 135 runs with Aadham Hilmy who scored 59 runs.
At Uyanwatta, a less than a run a ball 59 by Shehan de Zoysa helped Richmond recover to post 185 runs after being five wickets down for 83 runs at one stage on day one of the traditional Under 19 cricket encounter against St. Thomas’ Matara.
In reply, the home team were 63 for six wickets at stumps.
Match Details
Richmond 185, St. Thomas’ 63 for 6 at Uyanwatta
Scores
Richmond 185 all out in 65.5 overs
(Thamindu Pradeeptha 20, Bevin Jayawardana 22, Shehan de Zoysa 59; Pesandu Sanjan 2/29, Dinura Pawinji 2/29, Manuga Guruge 2/33, Vihaga Sankalana 2/15)
St. Thomas’ 63 for 6 in 22 overs
(Ochintha Chamika 20; Malith de Silva 3/29, Yuri Koththigoda 2/13)
Trinity dominate at Asgiriya
Scores
St. Benedict’s 147 all out in 44.2 overs
(Dumindu Yehan 33, Mewan Dissanayake 31, Nadun Fernando 27; Thisal Yapa 4/49, Vathila Udara 2/38, Maith Rathnayake 2/34, Ranul Gunarathna 2/12)
Trinity 222 for 2 in 48 overs
(Pulisha Thilakarathne 121n.o, Mahendra Abeysinghe 31, Aadham Hilmy 59)
by Reemus Fernando
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has stated that the introduction of the demerit points system in its code of conduct aims to establish a deterrent mechanism – focusing on the threat of suspension rather than suspension itself. This approach is designed to encourage a change in the behaviour of players, officials, and others.
In a communique to the franchises, the BCCI explained, “The IPL believes that the threat of a suspension is the strongest deterrent to bring about a change in behaviour, hence the system of accumulated Demerit Points which is included in the Code of Conduct.”
The new system is an adaptation of features from the International Cricket Council (ICC) Code but with slight differences, as reported by Cricbuzz. While the ICC carries forward points for five years, the BCCI system retains them for only three years. “The demerit points received by a player or team official under the regulations remain on their record for a period of thirty-six (36) months,” the BCCI says.
“Upon accumulation of Demerit Points, the Player or Team Official is awarded suspension(s). The details regarding the same are provided under Article 7.6 of the Regulations. An example of suspension through accumulation of Demerit Points is provided under Article 7.8 of the Regulations,” the mail mentions.
Article 7.6 specifies that the accumulation of four-seven demerit points will result in a one-match suspension, 8-11 points will lead to a two-match suspension, 12-15 points will incur a three-match suspension, and 16 or more points will result in a five-match suspension. Article 7.8 outlines the system for accumulating points over a period of three years and explains how the incremental system functions in the event of multiple breaches within these 36 months.
The BCCI also outlines how the demerits points are imposed under the new regulation. “Demerit Points will be imposed upon a Player or Team Official found to have committed an offence under the Code of Conduct. The number of Demerit Points imposed will be calculated by reference to the sanction imposed for the particular offences.”
Understandably, the levels of the breach will determine the number of demerit points. For instance, a fine of 25% of the match fee carries one (1) demerit point. A Level 2 offence attracts 3-4 demerit points, a Level 3 offence results in 5-6 demerit points, and a Level 4 breach leads to 7-8 demerit points. A key distinction is that the punishment may be imposed for a specific period or a certain number of matches. The match referee or an ombudsman determines this.
BCCI clarifies, “Where a Match Referee or Ombudsman imposes a period of suspension on any Player or Team Official, then, unless such period is for a fixed period of time (for example, one year) then, any such period of suspension shall be referenced by Suspension Points. Each Match in the League shall carry the weightage of one (1) Suspension Point. To clarify, a sanction of one (1) Suspension Point shall result in a one (1) Match suspension.”
The Pandya case
The BCCI has made it clear that Hardik Pandya will serve a one-match suspension for the breach from last season but will not incur any demerit points. “Any sanction imposed prior to the 2025 Season shall continue to be complied by the Player or Team Official. However, such sanctions imposed prior to the 2025 Season shall not result in imposition of Demerit Points.
“For example, a Player receiving a match suspension in his last game of the 2024 Season will serve the match suspension in the 2025 Season but will get no Demerit Points for this suspension,” the email states this and goes on to add, without explicitly referring to it, but clearly alluding to the Pandya case. “A minimum over-rate offence under the Regulations shall no longer carry a match suspension for the team captain. A minimum over-rate offence shall only result in the imposition of fine and fielding restrictions.”
There is also a system for an appeal against the sanctions, but it requires a payment of Rs 90 lakh. Says the mail, “Under the Regulations, any sanction imposed under Level 2 or Level 3 offence is appealable before the BCCI Ombudsman. However, any Player, Team Official or Franchisee that wishes to appeal such sanctions, may only do so upon the payment of an Appeal Fee which shall be the sum of INR 90 Lakh. This Appeal Fee is refundable only if the appeal is completely successful before the Ombudsman.”
According to the BCCI, the new regulations have been approved by the Governing Council of the IPL. The captains and managers of the teams were briefed about it at Thursday’s meeting at Cricket Centre.
Pakistan’s high-risk, high-reward tactics finally bore fruit after two failed attempts as the Salman Agha led side stormed to a nine-wicket victory against New Zealand in an enthralling battle that saw 411 runs being amassed at Eden Park Hasan Nawaz’s maiden T20I century outplayed Mark Chapman’s 94 as Pakistan chased down 205 in just 16 overs and kept the five-match series alive at 1-2.
Pakistan backed their new openers Nawaz and Mohammed Haris in the post Mohammed Rizwan-Babar Azam era and they repaid the faith by putting up a 74-run opening stand off just 35 balls to lay the perfect foundation for the chase. Salman capitalised on the flying start to score 51 not out and was involved in an unbroken 133-run second-wicket stand. Nawaz, who was coming off two successive ducks, blazed away the fastest hundred by a Pakistan batter in T20Is, off just 44 balls, in a sensational chase.
Chapman’s blistering knock off just 44 balls set New Zealand up for what seemed like an above-par total at the innings break. After losing Finn Allen for a three-ball duck in the first over by Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tim Seifert (19 off nine) and Chapman pushed New Zealand past early jitters. Seifert fell to Haris Rauf in the fifth over but Chapman didn’t slow down.
He pulled and hooked the short balls, brought out beautiful cover drives against seamers and punished loose deliveries from Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan. He brought up his fourth half-century against Pakistan off 29 balls. This was also his first T20I fifty in almost a year.
Pakistan got the much-needed breakthrough in the tenth over when Daryl Mitchell (17 off 11) chased a wide delivery of Shadab and miscued to Rauf. Chapman kept finding boundaries, however, even when Pakistan captain Agha brought himself on and leaked 13 runs off his only over.
His strong bottom-hand and exceptional placement saw him smash 11 fours and four sixes. He was eventually deceived by an Afridi slower ball in the 13th over.
Pakistan fought back with quick wickets including two double-wicket overs from Rauf and Abrar but Michael Bracewell’s 31 off 18 ensured New Zealand crossed 200.
After two disappointing outings, Haris and Nawaz gave the visitors a dream start. Haris began with two sixes off Kyle Jamieson’s first over of the innings and followed it up with two fours against Jacob Duffy. Nawaz had a tough time early on with his timing but still found boundaries through streaky edges. Pakistan reached their joint-fastest team fifty in men’s T20Is, in four overs.
Duffy removed Haris for a 20-ball 41 with a bouncer in the sixth over and Pakistan ended the phase with 75 for 1, their highest powerplay total in men’s T20Is, moving past the 73 they scored against England in 2016.
Nawaz rode his luck but made sure to hang around. He was not particularly convincing against short balls early on but he was able to see the balls more clearly as the innings progressed. Though he started the chase playing second fiddle to Haris, Nawaz took charge after the powerplay.
His first confident strike came against Ish Sodhi in the seventh over, when he picked a loopy googly and clubbed it over long-on for a six. He brought up his maiden T20I fifty off 26 balls in the ninth over and propelled Pakistan to 124 for 1 at the halfway stage.
Nawaz was dropped on 68 by Sodhi off Ben Sears’ bowling but New Zealand couldn’t do much on a batting-friendly pitch with dew also making the task hard for the bowlers. Nawaz eventually hammered ten fours and seven sixes in his 45-ball stay.
Unlike Nawaz, Agha was precise and clever in his batting that fetched him six fours and two sixes. The duo scored 65 runs in the last four overs of the chase to take the team home early.
Nawaz brought up his century off the penultimate ball, before Pakistan completed the fastest 200-plus chase in men’s T20Is.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 207 for 1 in 16 overs (Hasan Nawaz 105*, Salman Agha 51*, Mohammad Haris 41, Jacob Duffy 1-37) beat New Zealand 204 in 19.5 overs (Tim Seifert 19, Mark Chapman 94,Daryl Mitchell 17, Michael Bracewell 31, Ish Sodhi 10; Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-36, Abrar Ahmed 2-43, Haris Rauf 3-29, Abbas Afridi 2-24, Shadab Khan 1-33) by nine wickets
[Cricinfo]
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