Sports

A captain brought down by a bouncer of his own making?

Published

11 months ago

2025/11/19

When Sri Lanka’s T20 skipper Charith Asalanka was quietly withdrawn from the tri-series in Pakistan, the early whispers blamed a bout of illness. But scratch beneath the surface and a different picture emerges — one where the captain’s defiance during the heated stand-off over continuing the Pakistan tour has come back to hit him like a nasty lifter on a cracked pitch.

Fast bowler Asitha Fernando, another key figure who padded up to return home, has suffered a similar fate. The pair go back a long way — teammates at Under-19 level when Roy Dias guided Sri Lanka to a rare series win in England in 2014. Both of them are back home now and not part of the tri-series in Bangladesh.

Asalanka, groomed meticulously for leadership, has long carried the air of a captain-in-waiting. At Richmond College he led with aplomb and his stint as Sri Lanka’s Under-19 skipper only polished those credentials further. When he debuted at 23, it felt inevitable that the armband would rest on his sleeve and once entrusted with the reins, he steered the side with a calm assurance that echoed Mahela Jayawardene’s trademark poise.

Under his watch Sri Lanka beat Australia and India in bilateral ODI series, climbing to number four in world rankings — a breath of fresh air after the Champions Trophy miss. With bat in hand, Asalanka earned a reputation for ice-cold finishing, often shepherding tricky chases and setting up imposing totals. His rise to number seven in the ICC ODI batting chart was no fluke.

But T20 cricket, the game’s madcap sprint, proved less forgiving. His returns with the bat dipped alarmingly, and Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup campaign unravelled with not a single second-round win. Meanwhile, some of his bowling changes raised eyebrows.

Entrusting the final over to a returning Dunith Wellalage with big-hitting Mohammad Nabi at the crease was a gamble and the youngster was launched for five sixes. Sri Lanka escaped that night, knocking Afghanistan out, but other blunders were not so easily covered up — like overlooking ex-captain Dasun Shanaka for a crucial over and instead handing the ball to Kamindu Mendis, whose ambidextrous spin could not prevent Bangladesh from chasing 169 on a tough deck.

Through it all, Asalanka maintained a spotless disciplinary record. He carried himself with dignity, never dragging the game into disrepute. But more recently, murmurs emerged of a small clique within the squad — predominantly his mates from Richmond. It was background noise until the bomb blast in Islamabad, 20 kilometres from the team hotel.

Despite assurances from Pakistani authorities and upgraded security plans, a small group — Asalanka included — stood firm that the tour should be abandoned. Sri Lanka Cricket, unwilling to blink, began lining up replacements. Though the players eventually agreed to stay after late-night persuasion, the damage had been done.

The message from top was unmistakable: no one is bigger than the game. Sri Lanka lost the ODI series with a match to spare, Asalanka sat out the finale and he was quietly flown home before the tri-series began.

The writing on the wall had appeared earlier when selectors named Dasun Shanaka as T20 vice-captain, a not-so-subtle hint that all was not well. Asalanka failed to read the field and now it seems Shanaka will retain the captaincy for the T20 World Cup on home soil. As for Asalanka, he suddenly finds himself not fighting for leadership, but fighting for his place in the XI.

In cricket, as in life, one misjudged shot can turn a match on its head. For Charith Asalanka, this might just be the toughest innings he has yet to rebuild.

https://www.telecomasia.net/blog/a-captain-knocked-over-by-his-own-bouncer/

Telecom Asia Sport

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Ronaldo apologizes for Portugal walkout; says Jesus broke promise

Published

6 hours ago

2026/10/7

Priyan

Cristiano Ronaldo is Portugal's leading scorer (Aljazeera)

Cristiano Ronaldo has accused Portugal ‌coach Jorge Jesus of twice breaking his word, saying a failed agreement to publicly ⁠explain his omission ⁠against Norway drove him out of the camp, but insisting he remained available after any punishment.

In a lengthy statement, the 41-year-old gave his account of the dispute ⁠that prompted his departure from Copenhagen before Portugal’s Nations League match versus Denmark last week.

Ronaldo said Jesus had agreed a plan under which the forward would miss the Norway and Denmark ⁠matches to manage his fitness. However, on the day of the Norway game, the coach told him he would play for 30 minutes.

“Everyone knows the rest. I warmed up from halftime onwards, watched the minutes tick by and wasn’t called on,” Ronaldo said.

“The manager had broken his word to me.”

Portugal’s ‌captain and all-time leading scorer said a subsequent meeting with Jesus, attended by his club side Al Nassr’s sporting director Simao Coutinho, produced an agreement for the coach to clarify events at his next news conference.

According to Ronaldo, an eight-point document was prepared saying he had never demanded playing time, had respected Jesus’s decisions and that the coach asking him to warm up without bringing him on had been a mistake.

Ronaldo said the agreed notes did ⁠not require Jesus to apologise to him but said the coach’s ⁠public remarks bore no resemblance to their private discussion.

“It was the second time he had broken his word to me,” Ronaldo said. “I decided to leave the training camp without waiting for any further broken promises.”

The statement provided Ronaldo’s account⁠, but on Sunday, after Portugal’s win over Norway, Jesus denied he had made any agreement with the player, nevertheless leaving the door open ⁠for his return.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) did not immediately respond ⁠to a request for comment about Ronaldo’s statement.

Ronaldo apologised for failing to greet supporters after the Norway match and for leaving his teammates, accepting that his captaincy made his conduct more serious.

“The consequences of my actions must be assessed ‌and punished by the Portuguese Football Federation,” he said.

Despite the rupture, Ronaldo said he was not limiting his international ambitions to a farewell appearance.

“If I’m physically fit, playing for my club – scoring ‌goals, ‌I hope – after serving whatever suspension is imposed on me, I’ll be available, as I’ve always been until now, to compete and win for our national team,” he added.

(Aljazeera)

Sports

Nalanda on the cusp of reaching knockout stage as unbeaten run continues

Published

7 hours ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

Rusandu Silva has nine wickets against his name after three matches.

by Reemus Fernando

Nalanda College, Colombo continued their unbeaten run to come closer to securing a berth in the knockout stage as they beat Gurukula College by nine wickets in the Under 19 Division I Tier A Limited Overs Tournament match played at Campbell Place on Tuesday.

‎With Rusandu Silva continuing his impressive run in the tournament, Nalanda did well to restrict the team from Kelaniya to just 113 runs (in 35.4 overs).

‎After two outings Rusandu had six wickets against his name coming to this match.‎Rusandu and Methuka Perera claimed three wickets each. ‎Lithum Wijekumara also impressed with two wickets, while Santhul Wijeyarathne took one.

‎Adeepa Pinsara was the only batsman to make a contribution of note as he top-scored with 35 off 49 balls, including four fours and two sixes, while Javindu Madusanka made 20.

‎In their chase Nalanda made light work of the modest target, reaching 114 for one, scoring at a rate of over a run a ball.

‎Nadul Jayalath cracked an unbeaten 62 from just 52 balls. His innings contained four fours and five sixes. He received valuable support from Lithum Wijekumara, who scored 35 off 42 deliveries with six boundaries.

‎Ranmith Senarath completed the successful chase with an unbeaten 10 off seven balls, including two fours.

‎Nalanda lost only one wicket as the opening pair added 89 for the first wicket. Jayalath and Senarath then finished the contest comfortably, securing a convincing nine-wicket victory with many overs to spare.

‎It was Nalanda’s third successive victory in the Tier A tourney after having beaten Thurstan (155) by seven wickets and St. Servatius’ Matara (187) by four wickets in the first two matches.

‎As of now, they are the leading team in Group G where they have only St. Joseph’s Darley Road to meet before the knockout stage.

‎With just two teams advancing to the next stage from each Group Nalanda are almost assured of their place.

Sports

Wins for Hayley’s Group ‘A’ , HNB ‘A’ and CDB on Saturday

Published

7 hours ago

2026/10/7

Sahan Weerasooriya

33RD SINGER – MCA Super PREMIER LEAGUE

Hayley’s Group ‘A’, HNB ‘A’ and CDB registered wins by defeating Colombo Aces, Fairfirst Insurance and SLC Youth in the matches of the Mercantile Cricket Association’s Super Premier League cricket tournament on Sunday (04).

The MCA Super Premier League is sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka for the 33rd consecutive year.

At the Bloomfield Cricket ground, Nishan Madushka, Pulindu Perera and Minod Dhanuka smashed half tons as Hayley’s Group ‘A’ registered their second win of the tournament defeating Colombo Aces by six wickets.

At the Thurstan ground, Nipun Dhananjaya and Muditha Lakshan posted eighty plus scores to help CDB amass 307/8, which the bowlers defended by 71runs.

At the Colts Ground Milan Rathnayake starred with bat and ball [71 and 3-24] to help HNB ‘A’ overcome SLC Youth by 41 runs. Rehan Pieris topped SLC Youth score card with a 108 ball 77 with six fours and a six.

At Bloomfield Ground Colombo:

Hayley’s overcome Colombo Aces by six wickets

Colombo Aces 222/10 in 49 overs

[ Kavin Bandara 62, Dinura Kalupahan 50; Dhanajaya Lakshan 2-14, Ramesh Mendis 4-36]

Hayleys Group A 227/4 in 25.2 overs [Nishan Madushka 61, Pulindu Perera 51, Minod Bhanuka 54; Dinura Kalupahana 2-35]

At Thurstan College Ground:

CDB BY 71 runs

CDB 307/8 in 50 overs

[ Vishsd Randika 53, Nipun Dhananjaya 86, Muditha Lakshan 89; Himesh Ramanayake 3-49, ]

Fairfirst Insurance 236/10 in 46.4 overs

[Sanoj Dharshika 58, Yasiru Rodriga 78; Movin Subasinghe 3-27, Lahiru Madushanka 2-16]

At Colts ground;