Sports
A campaign that promised much but delivered so little
by Rex Clementine
Since winning the ICC T-20 World Cup in 2014, Sri Lanka had blown hot and cold in ICC events over the last ten years. But heading into this year’s T-20 showdown in the Caribbean and the United States, there was lot of hope. But it was all back to square one after a first round exit not able to make it to the Super Eight stage.
Along with Sri Lanka, former champions Pakistan and title contenders New Zealand were thrown out of the competition as Bangladesh, United States and Afghanistan progressed to the second round instead. It was a bitterly disappointing campaign.
This year, Sri Lanka had beaten both Bangladesh and Afghanistan convincingly in bilateral events. On that form you would have expected them to make it beyond the group stage, but the reality was harsher than what they had expected.
Sri Lanka had flown into the United States two weeks prior to the campaign. But all that preparation did not mean anything as the batting was a flop and bowling did not live up to expectations.
There will be a review about this campaign at Maitland Place and questions should be asked as to whether these two weeks were properly utilized. Look at Bangladesh. They too came to the US early but unlike Sri Lanka, they were involved in a bilateral T-20 series against the hosts.
The team’s batting approach obviously backfired. On USA tracks that were not ideal for batting, the team aimed too high and met their waterloo. The first five overs should have been an indication that these were no 160 tracks. In New York, they were shot out for just 77 runs, Sri Lanka’s lowest ever total in T-20 cricket. You expected the team to learn the lessons by the time they got to Dallas for the high pressure game against Bangladesh as they were facing elimination. But the aggression with the bat continued and that night the writing was on the wall for Sri Lanka. Whether they could progress to the next round or not were beyond their hands from thereon.
There’s no point in pinpointing one batter when the whole unit had flopped, but you always thought that Charith Asalanka was a smart cricketer than this. In both games he was dismissed trying to hit against the wind. The smartness he had exhibited over the years in building up innings vanished in double quick time.
Captain Wanindu Hasaranga’s came into the competition as the world’s number one ranked all-rounder and the team depended heavily on him. He too flopped with the bat and was barely a threat with his leg-spin. His decision making like opting to bat first in the unknown territory of New York was bizarre while his bowling choices were outrageous.
On returning home, Hasaranga claimed that some cricketers were behind attacking the team through social media platforms. This needs to be investigated. Disgruntled parties attacking the team when thrown out of the side is a dangerous precedent and should be nipped in the bud.
Not often have Sri Lanka taken a fully fit Dushmantha Chameera for a competition and not given him a game. Surely, after back to back defeats he should have featured in at least one game. Maheesh Theekshana’s one wicket after three games gives an indication about the team’s over reliance on him.
Dasun Shanaka was a failure too. He has been that for a while now. Maybe it’s time for the selectors to try out Janith Liyanage in the all-rounder’s slot.
Despite all the criticism, you’ve got to feel for the demanding schedule that was handed out to Sri Lanka. The former champions played their four games in four different venues. Flying across three US cities and to the Caribbean was demanding, but as professionals, you would want them to take up these challenges on the chin.
Envy England’s schedule though. In the first round, they played two games in Barbados and two games in Antigua. In the second round, they are in St. Lucia for two games and then back in Barbados for the remaining game. That’s not cricket when you consider the demanding schedules some other teams have had.
Defending champions Argentina will face England in the semifinals of FIFA World Cup 2026 after beating ten man Switzerland 3-1 after extra time thanks to a decisive long-range effort by Julian Alvarez.
Alexis Mac Allister headed in a 10th-minute cross by Lionel Messi to hand Argentina the lead at Kansas City Stadium on Saturday.
It was far from the dominant display that the South Americans would have hoped for thereafter, and the Europeans deservedly levelled in the 67th minute when Dan Ndoye slotted home from close range.
The Swiss controversially lost Breel Embolo to a second yellow in the 72nd minute for simulation. VAR had to intervene, however, to request the referee to review whether the booking given to Argentina’s Leandro Paredes was a case of mistaken identity – a new VAR rule for this tournament.
Embolo appeared to dive to win the free kick and Portuguese referee Joao Pinheiro changed his decision, which resulted in an inconsolable Embolo given his marching orders.
Argentina pressed for the winner in normal time and nearly found their reward with virtually the last kick of the period when Lisandro Martinez flung himself at a loose ball in the box, but his scissor-kick didn’t have the power to beat the keeper.
Messi had himself come close when through, one-on-one, but his chip was saved. The referee’s assistant raised his flag to suggest the effort would have been offside anyway, although replays show a goal may well have stood – it would have been Messi’s ninth in six appearances at the tournament.
It was Alvarez who stole the show on this occasion, however, with a fizzing effort from 25 yards which rifled into the top right corner of the goal in the 112th minute
As the Swiss threw bodies forward in the dying seconds, there were huge holes left at the back and Lautaro Martinez capitalised deep into stoppage time in extra time to slot home a third after a counterattack led by Thiago Almada, whose initial shot deflected kindly into his teammate’s path.
Argentina will now face England in the semifinal on Wednesday in Atlanta. Spain play France, the team Argentina defeated in the final at Qatar 2022, on Tuesday in the other last-four clash.
Only two nations have previously defended a World Cup title, Italy and Brazil.
The taxing nature of the competition, which saw Argentina also pushed to extra time in the round of 32 by Cape Verde, may play a part.
England, though, also needed extra time to beat Norway on Saturday, and 39-year-old Messi seems determined to defy time and can’t be ruled out from finding yet more magical moments.
(Aljazeera)
Jude Bellingham was England’s hero once more by scoring twice as the Three Lions came from behind to end Norway’s historic run and reach the World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 win after extra time.
In their first-ever quarterfinal, Andreas Schjelderup fired Norway into a shock lead in the searing Miami heat on Saturday.
But Bellingham, who also netted a double in a memorable 3-2 over Mexico in the last 16, produced a moment of magic to equalise just before half-time.
Norway had a second goal controversially disallowed after a VAR review in the second half for a foul by Erling Haaland as both sets of players were pushed to their physical limits by going to extra-time.
Bellingham came up with another big moment for the winner as he pounced on an error by Orjan Nyland to sweep in his sixth goal of the tournament.
England will face Argentina or Switzerland on Wednesday for the chance to reach a first World Cup final in 60 years.
Haaland’s spectacular run of scoring in his last 14 competitive matches for Norway came to an end against the land of his birth, with Norway’s exhausted talisman replaced at half-time of extra-time.
Having failed to win a World Cup knockout game after conceding first since the final of 1966 before this tournament,zeera England have now done so twice in three matches
The 5pm local time (21:00 GMT) kickoff in Florida meant that temperatures remained above 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) throughout, with intense humidity making for draining conditions for the players.
The heat looked as if it would spoil the spectacle in the first half.
Thomas Tuchel’s men were rattled as England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saved low from Martin Odegaard before Alexander Sorloth wasted a glorious chance when he failed to feed Haaland and instead went for goal himself.
Almost immediately, Bellingham pulled his team out of the mire once more.
Bellingham had been well marshalled until he collected Anthony Gordon’s pass, burst into the box at speed and then slotted home on his weaker left foot.
Momentum was suddenly in England’s favour and they nearly went into the break ahead.
Bellingham was this time the creator for Kane, who dinked the ball coolly over Nyland, but had just drifted offside.
Tuchel introduced Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze at the break for the ineffective Noni Madueke and Declan Rice – the Arsenal midfielder had been suffering with illness earlier in the week.
But those changes left England light in midfield, and they were left hanging on at spells in the second half.
Torbjorn Heggem made the most of some sloppy defending to turn in at the back post, but Haaland was penalised for a push on new Manchester City teammate Elliott Anderson before the corner had been taken, and the goal was disallowed.
Norway were inches away from a winner again when Kristoffer Ajer hit the bar after England failed to deal with another dangerous corner.
Both sides visibly wilted in the energy-sapping conditions late on but were forced to endure an extra 30 minutes.
Nyland had been Norway’s supporting act in the last 16 win over Brazil with a series of saves before Haaland struck twice late on for a landmark victory.
This time the Sevilla goalkeeper was the villain as he spilled substitute Morgan Rogers’ shot from distance and Bellingham pounced and scored.
England were awarded a penalty moments later, but this time VAR intervened in Norway’s favour to deem Djed Spence had initiated contact inside the box.
Yet, Norway’s spirit was already crushed, epitomised by a slouched Haaland watching on from the bench with nothing more to give.
Tuchel said his side was “lucky” to emerge with the win.
“We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today. The result is fantastic. We are in the last four. It’s amazing but not happy with the performance,” he told ITV.
“The commitment is there, but we made life difficult for ourselves in the way we played – sloppy, a lot of technical mistakes, not fast enough, not repetitive enough. We were lucky today.
“It’s about the quality – we need to play better. We will get better [in the semifinal]. We need to.”
(Aljazeera)
Sports
Dialog President’s Gold Cup 2026 launches, powering Volleyball talent to shine on the national stage
The Dialog President’s Gold Cup Volleyball Championship 2026, Sri Lanka’s premier volleyball tournament, will get underway in September, with Dialog Axiata PLC continuing as title sponsor for the 19th consecutive year.
Organised by the Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation, the annual championship remains the country’s only open volleyball tournament that provides village-level teams with an opportunity to compete their way to the national stage.First introduced in 1991 with the inaugural final played at the newly renovated Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium, the President’s Gold Cup has grown into one of the country’s most important domestic volleyball competitions. Dialog Axiata has backed the tournament since 2005, while also serving as the principal sponsor of Sri Lanka’s men’s and women’s national volleyball teams.
This year’s competition will be conducted in two stages, beginning with district-level tournaments before moving into the national championship. The district champions, 25 men’s teams and 25 women’s teams, will qualify for the national stage.District matches are scheduled to begin on weekends from early September, with the national competition expected to commence about two months later.Teams may field players of any age, allowing experienced players and young talent to compete together. Players must have lived within the relevant Divisional Secretariat division for at least three years to be eligible to represent clubs from that area.Entries for the championship close on August 15.
“We are proud to continue our partnership with the Dialog President’s Gold Cup Volleyball Championship for two decades. Dialog’s vision is to create opportunities for athletes to progress from village-level competition to the international stage. This tournament has consistently produced talented players while helping strengthen Sri Lanka’s national sport, I also would like to Thank the Sri Lanka Volleyball federation for their support to conduct the Tournament,” said Dialog Axiata PLC Group Chief Marketing Officer Lasantha Theverapperuma.
Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation President Senior DIG Sajeewa Medawatta said the tournament has played a significant role in developing players capable of representing the national team.
“Many players have progressed from village volleyball through this championship to represent Sri Lanka. Dialog’s continued support has helped create that pathway, and we are grateful for its long-standing commitment to the sport,” he said.
The tournament will be broadcast on Dialog Television, the Dialog Play app and ThePapare.com, allowing volleyball fans across the country to follow the competition.
Dialog Axiata is the proud sponsor of the National Cricket, Volleyball and Esports teams. Dialog is also the primary sponsor of the Sri Lanka Golf Open and Paralympic sports by powering the National Para Games, and the Sri Lankan contingent to the World Paralympic Games. Further, in line with its commitment towards powering the champions of tomorrow, the company continues to power the President’s Gold Cup Volleyball, National Junior and Senior Netball tourneys, and School Rugby
Thambuttegama Water Supply Project Commissioned by the President
New Chairman and members appointed to the Public Service Commission
Argentina beat Switzerland to set up World Cup 2026 semifinal with England
Bellingham scores twice as England beat Norway 2-1 to reach World Cup semis
Tehran attacks Jordan, Gulf states after US bombardment
Showers will occur in the Sabaragamuwa, Western and North-western provinces and in Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya, Galle and Matara districts
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