Sports
Athletics fraternity bids adieu to K.L.F. Wijedasa
The athletics fraternity lost one of its respected former officials last week. K.L.F. Wijedasa who passed away last week was a top sports administrator, reputed coach and former national record holder in the men’s 100 metres.
He was one of the most senior officials in the Sri Lankan athletics field and was 93 years old at the time of his demise.
He held several positions in the Sri Lankan athletic arena including National Athletics Coach, Chairman of the National Athletics Selection Committee and Asian Athletics Technical Officer. He was the former Director of Physical Education at the University of Colombo.
An alumnus of Ananda College, Colombo, he was reputed for leading Royal College, Colombo to win the Sri Lanka Schools Tarbet Championship for consecutive years in the 1970s and 80s.
He was a talented athlete and held the Sri Lankan record in the 100m in the 1950s.
Born on 04th May 1932, K. L. F. attended, Dharmasoka, Ambalangoda, Moratu Vidyalaya and later joined Ananda College, Colombo, from where he entered the University of Peradeniya. From his childhood, he took a keen interest in athletics and ended up as the joint record holder in the 100m, in 1955 with a timing of 11.0 second.
He represented the University of Ceylon at the All-India-Ceylon Inter-University Athletic Championship held at Peradeniya (1953), Aligarh (1954) and Bangalore was (1955). He was a member of the winning relay team at the All-India Inter-University Athletic Meets.
After obtaining an Honour Degree in geography he took up teaching. He was the Master-in-charge of Athletics at Richmond College (1956 -1957), and Ananda College (1957-1965). He held the prestigious position of Prefect of Games at Ananda from 1960 to 1965.
Wijedasa was a founder member of Ceylonese Track and Field Club (CT & FC), being the vice president from 1965-1989. He was also the chairman of the organizing committee of the CT & FC Marathon (1965), the first marathon held in Sri Lanka.
Wijedasa was the national coach of athletics from 1983 to 1986. He produced 30 national title holders, 10 national record holders and nearly 10 internationally reputed athletes during his coaching career.
Vijitha Wijesekera (hurdles and pole vault), Sunil Gunawardane (200 m) Kosala Sahabandu, Prasad Perera (800 m), K. G. Badra (100m, 200m, 400m) Nandika de Silva (200 m, 400 m), Melanie White (400 m), W. Tamara Padmini (1500 m, 3000 m), Surangani de Silva (hurdles) were among his charges.
He was the coach when for the first time, three school girls clocked sub 13 seconds in the100 m in Sri Lanka in 1968.
The trio were K. G. Badra (12.5 sec), Melanie White (12.8 sec) and Manori Wijeratne (12.9 secs).
”Most of my athletes not only did well in the track and field. Equally, they did very well in life. This is because, we did not see only the performance part, but also human development. This is one of the greatest treasures I have earned in my life,” Wijedasa was once quoted as having said.
Wijedasa edited the teaching manual for athletics and also the 75th AAA Souvenir. Wijedasa also contributed to The Island and The Sunday Island reminiscing the performances of legendary Sri Lankan athletes.
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Tamim Iqbal elected new BCB president
Tamim Iqbal has been elected as the new BCB president following the elections held in Dhaka on Sunday. Tamim was the only candidate, and he will serve a four-year term in total, having already completed two months as the ad-hoc committee’s head.
The Bangladesh government called for BCB elections under the interim body in April, following the dissolution of the previous elected body under Aminul Islam.
The day-long election, including physical votes and e-ballots, were held at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, which is also the board headquarters. A total of 23 directors were elected in three categories and two government representatives were announced later to form the 25-member body.
Tamim is one of the most prominent cricketers to have played for Bangladesh, having appeared in 391 internationals across three formats. He led Bangladesh to 21 wins in 38 matches across formats, including the 2-1 ODI series against South Africa in 2022. After his international retirement in early 2025, Tamim continued to play domestic tournaments but a heart attack during a Dhaka Premier League match that year put an abrupt end to his playing career.
The election commission said 88 votes were cast to elect 23 directors in two out of the three categories. The first category includes all the divisions and districts of the country, the second is the Dhaka clubs that participate in the league system, while the third consists of former cricketers, captains, education boards and others. Tamim was one of twelve directors elected from the second category.
The new 25-member body held an election among themselves to choose the president and two vice-presidents. After Tamim was elected as board president, Fahim Sinha was elected as one of the two vice-presidents. The other vice-president hasn’t been selected.
The previous board elections were held on October 6 last year. Aminul was re-elected BCB president under controversial circumstqnces when Tamim, leading one of the panels, withdrew from the polls alleging Aminul of “bias and malpractice”.
Category 1 directors: Sayeed Bin Zaman, Abdullah Al Fuad, Minhajul Abedin, Moyeen Uddin Chowdhury, Shantanu Islam, Shafiqul Alam, Mizanur Rahman, Abdul Qayyum Chowdhury, Shakrul Alam, Faisal Amin
Category 2 directors: Tamim Iqbal, Fahim Sinha, Asif Rabbani, Israfil Khasru, Dr Sarkar Mahbub Ahmed, Masuduzzaman, Rafiqul Islam, Sakeef Ahmed, Shanian Taneem, Syed Ibrahim Ahmed, Yasir Abbas, Yasir Faisal
Category 3 director: Sirajuddin Alamgir.
Government representative directors: Ruhul Amin, Sarfaraz Ahmed
[Cricinfo]
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West Indies look to level series in rainy Kingston
With no play possible in the second ODI, both teams go into the third game well-rested. Perhaps this is a chance for the IPL returnees in particular to have caught their breath. The rain, though, may not have cleared in Kingston completely. According to the forecast, showers are likely in the afternoon and also possible in the evening, though there may be dry spells in between. There is a chance this will be a stop-start match in which DLS calculations come into play.
With a series win now beyond them, West Indies will be especially motivated to avoid being blanked at home. There is also the matter of their current 10th-placed ranking, which is not enough for them to gain automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup (cut-off is end of March next year). They need every ranking point they can get over the next two months. Sri Lanka are slightly more comfortable, at sixth position, and about 12 points clear of the current cut-off. But they’ll want to build more of a cushion themselves.
In the first ODI, Sri Lanka’s dominance in the middle overs is what had won them the match. Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga were economical on a helpful surface, where West Indies’ frontline spinner Gudakesh Motie had been hit out of the attack. And Sri Lanka’s top six also showed serious hustle, picking up the tempo and keeping the runs flowing after Sri Lanka had had a poor powerplay with the bat.
These remain two relatively evenly-matched teams, however. With a little more discipline from their bowlers, West Indies are capable of leveling the series.
Although his Test average remains outstanding, Kamindu Mendis is yet to find a home in limited-overs cricket. Partly this is because his batting is so versatile, coaches and selectors have tended to yank him up and down the order as the team’s needs evolve. So far in ODIs, he has done his best work at No. 7 and 8, but he has now been asked to open the innings alongside Pathum Nissanka. His first innings at the top of the order brought only 12, but Sri Lanka are unlikely to ditch the strategy after one game. Can batting in the powerplay be the change he needs to kick his white ball career into high gear?
Over a fledgling international career, Keacy Carty has demonstrated promise at No. 3, where he averages 45.18. What he doesn’t have, so far, however, is the kind of body of work a long-term No. 3 should ideally built. So far, he has two tons apiece against England and Ireland, but is yet to put up serious numbers against other oppositions. Runs against an attack of Sri Lanka’s quality would add to his confidence.
Rain will potentially dictate conditions on Monday. If there’s rain around, teams tend to prefer to chase. Not only do they prefer to be batting while DLS calculations are in play, but a wetter ball is also more difficult for bowlers to grip, particularly spinners.
West Indies may think about bringing Shimron Hetmyer into the XI to shake up the batting a little.
West Indies (possible): John Campbell, Justin Greaves, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (capt.)(wk), Shimron Hetmyer/Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales
Sri Lanka may keep their winning XI, but with so many quicks to choose from, may be tempted to give Eshan Malinga a run, especially if it’s a shortened match.
Sri Lanka (possible): Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (capt.)(wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Milan Rathnayake, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando/Eshan Malinga
[Cricinfo]
Latest News
Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up: Kapp, Wolvaardt take SA past Ireland
South Africa successfully defended 136 in an 18-over game against Ireland in the Women’s T20 World Cup warm-up fixture in Loughborough . The experienced Marizanne Kapp led the way with the ball, her 4 for 24 helping South Africa dismiss Ireland for 120 in 17.4 overs. Shabnim Ismail, who had recently reversed her retirement, picked up 1 for 25 in her four overs.
Leah Paul was the only Ireland batter to pass 20 in their chase. Apart from Paul, only four Ireland batters got to double figures.
After South Africa were asked to bat first, they posted 136 for 8 on the back of captain Laura Wolvaardt’s 65 off 37 balls, including seven fours and three sixes.
SCORES:
South Africa Women 136 for 8 in 18 overs (Sune Luus 17, Laura Wolvaardt 65, Annerie Dercksen 26, Nadine de Klerk 11, Aimee Maguire 1-13, Arlene Kelly 3-29, Cara Murray 2-13, Ava Canning 2-08) beat Ireland Women 120 in 17.4 overs (Rebecca Stockel 19, Leah Paul 29, Alice Tector 17, Louise Little 13, Arlene Kelly 15; Marizanne Kapp 4-24, Shabnim Ismail 1-25, Tumi Sekhukhune 2-18, Nadine de Klerk 1-16, Nonkululeko Mlaba 1-25) by 16 runs
(Crickinfo)
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