Sports

Choosing captains on merit and not on seniority

Published

2 years ago

2024/07/28

Thilina Walpola

Charith Asalanka

Rex Clementine at Pallekele

Sri Lanka’s captaincy often has been decided on seniority in recent years. Muttiah Muralitharan never had a chance of captaining the side for he never wanted it. Otherwise, on seniority, he should have succeeded Sanath Jayasuriya in 2003. But in recent years, almost every senior player in the side wanted to give captaincy a crack. Some were spectacular failures while a few other captains’ shortcomings were camouflaged as the side fared well thanks to the presence of a host of match winners.

At times, grooming of captains has not gone down well with seniors. When Sidath Wettimuny appointed Mahela Jayawardene as deputy to Sanath Jayasuriya at the age 22, there were a few murmurs. But Sidath wasn’t giving an indication about the succession plan. He was simply grooming a future leader. It was the right decision. MJ did an outstanding job when his turn came to lead Sri Lanka in 2006.

Early this year, the selectors split the captaincy appointing three captains for three formats. While Dhananjaya de Silva’s succession as Test captain was endorsed as he had been understudy to Dimuth Karunaratne for several years. However, giving Wanindu Hasaranga and Kusal Mendis a taste of captaincy cast doubts in people’s minds and as expected their stints lasted just over six months. Wanindu was a bit of a disaster earning two suspensions and a hefty fine. Not the kind of standards you’d expect from a national captain.

True, Wanindu was elevated as Sri Lanka’s captain after he led Kandy franchise to the title in the LPL last year. But between Charith and Wanindu, it is a clear cut who is a better leader.

You wonder whether the selectors would have been better off handing ODI and T-20 captaincies to Charith Asalanka in January itself. To start with, he had been groomed as captain from a young age. In fact, Wanindu played under Charith for Sri Lanka Under-19.

Charith takes up the captaincy at a relatively young age having turned 27 last month. He’s been in the set up for barely three years and that’s an indication as to how much empty that leadership cupboard is. That is quite worrisome and lack of leadership within the team is one reason why Sri Lanka has performed below par in ICC events in recent years.

How acute is the leadership problem is even more evident as the team has not named a vice-captain for the ongoing T-20 series. That is an area the selectors need to give serious thought to. If they are sensing an impending crisis, there’s no harm in playing someone like Dunith Wellalage so that he would be ready down the line to succeed Asalanka.

Charith has carried himself well since making his debut for the country in 2021. No suspensions, no fines and no reprimands and a clean track record is a rare thing for a young Sri Lankan cricketer these days. He needs to be commended and backed all the way.

Charith’s batting is a breath of fresh air as well. He bats with authority when setting scores and when chasing targets, he keeps his composure and has helped the side pull off some famous wins. His choice of shots during the recent World Cup were uncharacteristic and many were upset by the options he took like trying to hit Anrich Nortje to the largest part of the ground in New York with the side in trouble at 45 for five.

Then in the next game in Dallas, he attempted to hit the leg-spinner against the wind and threw it away again. You had seen a lot more maturity from him but during the World Cup his batting was uncharacteristic. But batters have bad tournaments and many would give him the benefit of the doubt for what he had exhibited in these three years not just what he showed in US.

As we tried to argue, most Sri Lanka’s recent captains have got the job on seniority and not because of their tactical brilliance or leadership skills. Charith is the first captain in a while to possess all attributes a good captain needs. In US, Donald Trump is promising to make America great again. Can Charith make Sri Lankan cricket great again?

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Sports

Royal to meet St. Joseph’s, St. Peter’s eliminate Cambrians

Published

2 hours ago

2026/07/25

Thilina Walpola

Under 17 Division I Cricket

by Reemus Fernando

A combined bowling effort helped St. Peter’s College, Bambalapitiya beat Prince of Wales College Moratuwa by 55 runs and reach the pre-quarter finals of the Under 17 Division I cricket tournament on Friday.

‎Of all the knockout stage matches played on Friday, the encounter between the Petes and the Cambrians was the match that lasted the longest distance as the home team found batting resistance from number nine batsman.

‎The Cambrians foughtback after slipping to 59 for seven, on the back of a fighting 64 from Kaveesha Kithmina to bow down gracefully.

‎Batting first, St. Peter’s posted 230 for nine thanks to 76 off 113 balls by Sashidu Silva and a brisk 61 from 49 deliveries by Menura Dissanayake.Sandeepa Dananjaya was the pick of the Prince of Wales bowlers with an impressive five-wicket haul for 33 runs.

‎Most of the other knockout matches were one sided contests.

‎Royal College Colombo bundled out Wariyapola Sri Sumangala College, Kandy for a mere 44 runs to record a crushing 269 runs win and secure a pre-quarter final berth against St. Joseph’s College Darley Road.

‎Gagan Gamage (7-1-16-5) and Mahiru Kodituwakku (7-2-18-4) used the home advantage to good effect as they shared nine wickets between them to rattle the opposition within 18 overs. Batting first the Reid Avenue team amassed 313 runs for five wickets with Savain Gamage (53), Dushen Udawela (50) and Manuth Dasanayake (76) scoring half centuries.

‎Maris Stella College, Negombo, Galahitiyawa Central and St. Aloysius’ College, Galle were the other teams to enter the pre-quarter final stage on Friday.

‎St. Aloysius’ College, Galle booked a pre-quarter final berth against St. Sebastian’s College Moratuwa with a crushing seven-wicket victory over Ananda Sastralaya, Kotte.

‎Ananda Sastralaya struggled throughout their innings and were bundled out for 65 runs. Chenuka Dodangoda with a run a ball 27 was the only batsman to make a notable contribution.

‎St. Aloysius’ bowlers shared honours bowling tight spells. Hasitha Dasun produced the standout performance taking four wickets for two runs, while Manindu Pabasara supported well picking up two for seven. Yenul Nethsuka, Chethana Kularathna and Sanuda Imaya picked up a wicket each.

‎In reply, St. Aloysius made light work of the modest target, reaching 67 for 3 in just 9.4 overs. Gimhan Hansaka struck an aggressive 33 off 25 balls with seven fours to lay the foundation for victory.

‎Kavinga Dabare claimed all three wickets for Ananda Sastralaya, finishing with 3 for 9, but his effort could not prevent St. Aloysius’ from sealing the pre-quarter final berth.

‎In the other matches, Maris Stella College, Negombo beat Royal Central Polonnaruwa by five wickets and Galahitiyawa Central beat Taxila Central by six wickets.

Sports

Galle Gallants back to winning ways

Published

2 hours ago

2026/07/25

Thilina Walpola

Sahan Arachchige starred for Galle Gallants

Galle Gallants got back to the winning track after their first loss against Dambulla Sixers on 22 July to make it three wins out of four games as they outclassed Jaffna Kings by 60 runs on Thursday at the Rangiri International Stadium in Dambulla.

After all the five teams have played four games each, Galle Gallants sit atop with six points, while Kaps, Sixers and Kings have four points each. Royals have two points only.

After being asked to bat first, Gallants lost Sam Harper and Charith Asalanka early with 16 runs on the board in three overs. At this point, Chris Lynn and Chamika Karunaratne put on 48 runs with the former dominating the stand as he ended up with a 22-ball 46 before departing.

Gallants slipped to 110-6 in 14.2 overs before their top-scorer Sahan Arachchige and Mohammad Nawaz arrested the collapse with a game-changing 68-run stand off 30 balls. Arachchige hit four fours and three sixes in his 36-ball 63, while Nawaz hit two sixes and as many fours in his 27 off 16 balls.

Vijayakanth Viyaskanth hit a six off the two balls he faced as Gallants posted a strong 193-8 in 20 overs. Dilshan Madushanka and Lizaad Williams picked up two wickets each. Shakib Al Hasan, Dunith Wellalage and Mohammad Shiraz had one wicket each to their name.

In reply, Jaffna Kings’ chase never got going as they were rocked by three wickets each from Tharindu Ratnayake and Eshan Malinga. They slipped to 33-4 with Akif Javed and Dasun Shanaka also sharing a wicket each.

Only Wellalage managed to put up some fight with the bat and it was because of his 39-ball 56 that Jaffna Kings managed to salvage some pride and closed in on the loss margin. Wellalage hit four fours and as many sixes in the lost battle that he waged as Kings went from 99-8 in 12.3 overs to 133 all out with Williams unable to walk out to bat due to injury.

David Wiese was the only other batter to cross the 20-run mark as he scored 22 with the help of three fours. Ratnayake finished with three for 19 in four, Malinga with three for 13 in three, while Viyaskanth also picked up a wicket.

Brief Scores

Galle Gallants won by 60 runs

Galle Gallants: 193/8 in 20 overs

]Sahan Arachchige 63 (36), Chris Lynn 46 (22), Mohammad Nawaz 27 (16); Dilshan Madushanka 2/35 (4), Lizaad Williams 2/37 (4)

Jaffna Kings: 133/9 in 17.5 overs

[Dunith Wellalage 56 (39), David Wiese 22 (20); Eshan Malinga 3/13 (3), Tharindu Ratnayake 3/19 (4)]

Sports

Arachchige, Rathnayake and Malinga pump Jaffna

Published

20 hours ago

2026/07/24

Priyan

A 36 ball 63 by Sahan Arachchige and three wickets each by Eshan Malinga [3-13] and Tharindu Rathnayake [3-19] helped Galle Gallants defeat Jaffna Kings by 60 runs in the 10th match of the Lanka Premier League 2026. Galle Gallants lead the points table with three wins from four outings.

Scores:
Galle Gallants 193/8 in 20 overs [Chris Lynn 46, Sahan Arachchige 63, Dasun Shanaka 12, Dinura Kalupahana 10, Mohammad Nawaz 27; Mohamed Shiraz 1-23, Dunith Wellalage 1-13, Shakib Al Hasan 1-27, Dilshan Madushanaka 2-35, Lizaad Williams 2-37]

Jaffna Kings 133 in 17.5 overs [Kamil Mishara 15, Ibrahim Zadran 11, David Weise 22, Dunith Wellalage 56; Dasun Shanaka 1-21, Tharindu Rathnayake 3-19, Akif Javed 1-22, Eshan Malinga 3-13, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 1-32]