Sports
Big boys return for World Test Championship
by Rex Clementine
Having dumped several seniors from Sri Lanka’s white ball teams, the national selection panel has recalled them for the two match Test series against West Indies that will get underway on Sunday at the Galle International Stadium. This is Sri Lanka’s first assignment in the World Test Championship and a total of 24 points (12 points per Test) is on offer.
Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne along with former captains Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal and Suranga Lakmal have been named in a 22 member squad. Middle order batsman Roshen Silva and top order batsman Oshada Fernando also have been recalled. Both Tests will be played in Galle in a ‘bio-secure bubble’.
Galle is traditionally a happy hunting ground for Sri Lanka but in recent times they have fared badly at the venue. The team lost both Tests against England this year as the spin duo of Jack Leach and Dom Bess from Somerset outperformed their Sri Lankan counterparts.
Left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya, who missed the Bangladesh Tests due to injury also has been named in the squad as Sri Lanka look to bank on their spin options to beat West Indies. Returning to the Test squad along with Lakmal is his new ball partner Vishwa Fernando, who has been quite impressive in recent months.
The squad includes three uncapped players in top order batsman Kamil Mishara, leg-spinner Suminda Lakshan and right-arm quick Chamika Gunasekara.
There was a scare on Thursday after Sri Lanka’s fielding coach Shane McDermott tested positive for COVID and his close contacts Head Coach Mickey Arthur and Batting Coach Grant Flower were isolated. However, after a fresh pcr test, both Arthur and Flower have returned to the fold.
This is the final series for Sri Lanka’s coaching staff including Head Coach Mickey Arthur. The former South Africa First Class cricketer was immensely popular having built up a young team and done so well during the T-20 World Cup. He was seeking an extension to his contract that will end in December but SLC seems to be having other ideas. Arthur (56) will now join English county Derbyshire.
Sri Lanka
(From) Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Oshada Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Kamil Mishara, Minod Bhanuka, Roshen Silva, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lakshan Sandakan, Suminda Lakshan, Suranga Lakmal, Vishwa Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando, Chamika Gunasekara.
The BCB has said that they will rely on the Bangladesh government’s directive before finalising their tour to Pakistan later this month. Bangladesh were originally scheduled to play five T20Is there from May 25 to June 3, but the PSLs schedule was revised following cross-border tensions between Pakistan and India.
According to the revised fixtures, the PSL final will now be held on May 25, when Pakistan and Bangladesh were originally scheduled to play the first T20I.
ESPNcricinfo has learned that the PCB has sent a new schedule for the T20Is between Pakistan and Bangladesh, with the first match now slotted for May 27, and the last on June 5.
BCB’s media committee chairman Iftekhar Rahman said they will rely on information from government security agencies and the Bangladesh high commission in Islamabad to take the final decision.
“Once we receive official communication about the dates and venues [of the tour], we will forward it to the government,” Rahman said. “The BCB is not the decision-maker in this matter. If the government agencies and our embassy declare Pakistan safe for travel, only then will we proceed.
“In our previous meeting, we agreed that any such situation would be referred to the foreign and home ministries. Once we get clearance from all relevant bodies, we will finalise the tour. Security concerns were more significant in the past, but Pakistan has proven it can ensure safety. Still, given the current circumstances, we need to assess whether the situation across the country is stable before sending the team.”
Before playing Pakistan, Bangladesh are scheduled to play two T20Is against UAE in Sharjah on May 17 and 19. They were then supposed to fly to Lahore on May 21.
[Cricinfo]
Apna Perera won his third title of the 110th Colombo Championships as he partnered Dhilvan Herath to beat Dumindu Dilum and Chehan Fernando in the open men’s doubles final.
Apna and Dhilvan registered 6-2, 6-2 win in the final.
Apna, the open men’s singles champion, was also the winner of the mixed doubles which was played according to round robin method. In the mixed doubles Apna partnered Inuki Jayaweera.
Results
Men’s doubles semi-finals
Apna Perera and Dhilvan Herath beat Ashen Silva and Lithum Jayabandu 6-1, 6-2
Dumindu Dilum and Chehan Fernando beat Methika Wickramasinghe and Vichinthya Nilaweera 6-3, 2-6, 10-4.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) recently carried out a Fast Bowling Talent Search program in the Polonnaruwa District as part of its ongoing efforts to identify and nurture emerging cricketing talent across the country.
The program, held at the Royal College Ground, Polonnaruwa, attracted over 60 promising young players—both boys and girls—including school cricketers of the district. Each participant underwent skill assessments to evaluate their fast bowling potential.
Following the evaluations, 20 talented bowlers were selected for further development.
The selected players will now receive structured training under the guidance of Provincial coaches of Sri Lanka Cricket, with a focus on refining their techniques and enhancing their overall performance.
Those who continue to demonstrate consistent improvement will be given the opportunity to join SLC’s district squads, thereby becoming part of the official National Pathway Program.
This initiative is a part of SLC’s ‘Cricket Gamata’, program which aims to find talent from rural areas across Sri Lanka.
The talent assessments were conducted by Lasantha Lakmin, SLC Talent Scout for the North Central and North Western Provinces; Lakshitha Herath, North Central Provincial Women’s Coach; and Saman Senanayake, North Central Provincial Fast Bowling Coach.
The event was organized by the North Central Provincial Cricket Association under the guidance of Sri Lanka Cricket. It was managed by Krishan Anandakumar, Manager of the Center of Excellence, Dambulla.
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