Sports

Cricket Interim Committee to tackle Test drought

Published

3 months ago

2026/05/4

For a whole year, Sri Lanka haven’t played a Test match and captain Dhananjaya de Silva has raised the issue at several forums

Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Cricket Interim Committee will pad up for its first outing on Wednesday and high on the agenda is a glaring void that has left purists fuming – the alarming lack of Test cricket. The numbers make for grim reading. Sri Lanka last took the field in whites in June 2025 and are not scheduled to do so again until June 2026, effectively leaving the longest format out in the cold for a full year.

For a nation that once prided itself on producing artists in whites, the current scenario has gone down like a lead balloon. Senior players, especially those who ply their trade in the red-ball game, have raised the issue time and again, only to be met with a straight bat from the game’s hierarchy. The stock response has been predictable – Test cricket doesn’t pay its way, or the World Test Championship leaves little room to manoeuvre. But critics say those arguments don’t quite pass the smell test, accusing administrators of simply playing for time.

While the previous regime under Shammi Silva kept a hawk’s eye on the balance sheet, it appears the soul of the game was left to fend for itself. The new Interim Committee, however, seems to have read the pitch a little better, acknowledging that the situation has reached a tipping point and requires urgent attention.

Under the World Test Championship, opponents are locked in by the International Cricket Council, but the length of each series is left to bilateral negotiations. Sri Lanka, more often than not, have settled for the bare minimum – two-match series that barely allow a contest to breathe, let alone flourish. It has been a case of treating Test cricket like a hot potato rather than the game’s crown jewel.

What has raised more than a few eyebrows is the lack of initiative to schedule fixtures outside the WTC cycle. Matches against the likes of Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and Ireland could have helped keep the red-ball engine ticking, but those opportunities have been left to gather dust.

The discontent within the dressing room spilled into the open last year when players realised the cupboard was almost bare. Promises were made – including talk of a series against Pakistan in November last year – to douse the flames, but those assurances, like too many before them, failed to get off the ground.

Now, the Interim Committee appears ready to address the issue. Among the options on the table are exploring fixtures beyond the WTC and from the next cycle onwards, stretching home series into three-match contests instead of the usual two-Test affairs – a move that would give the format a fighting chance to regain its rhythm.

The statistics, meanwhile, offer a sobering reality check. Sri Lanka’s Test calendar over the past five years ranks among the leanest in world cricket. In a twist that borders on the ironic, observers point out that even during the dark days of war, the national side found itself playing more Test cricket than it does now.

by Rex Clementine

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Binura, Liyanage, Neesham take Colombo Kapps to victory

Published

2 hours ago

2026/07/20

Priyan

Binura Fernando, Hasan Mahmud and James Neesham shared nine wickets between them to restrict Kandy Royals to 179 after which Janith Liyanage (53*) and James Neesham (48*) helped Colombo Kaps to reach the win need with six wickets in hannd in the fifth match of the Lanka Premier League 2026, played under lights at the SSC on Sunday.

Scores:

Kandy Royals 179 in 20 overs (Kusal Perera 11, Lahiru Udara 53, Angelo Mathews 45, Vijay Shankar 15; Binura Fernando 4-45, Hasan Mahmud 3-31, James Neesham 2-42)

Colombo Kaps 182/4 in 19.4 overs (Kamindu Mendis 26 , Ben McDermott 22, Janith Liyanage 53*, James Neesham 48*; Angelo Mathews 1-21, Nuwan Thushara 1-22, Wanudu Hasaranga 2-29)

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Messi on the brink of history – will it be his last World Cup game?

Published

7 hours ago

2026/07/19

Priyan

Lionel Messi has scored 15 of his 21 World Cup goals in 2022 and 2026 [BBC]

Argentina are one win away from sporting immortality.

Lionel Scaloni’s side are bidding to become just the third team to win successive World Cups, after Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962).

If they are to pip European champions Spain to the crown, they will need Lionel Messi to be at his best. Again.

Is he the greatest of all time?

Whatever your response to that statement – and it could be debated for hours – it cannot be denied that the Argentine maestro is among the best players to ever set foot on a pitch.

Win on Sunday and Messi will become the first captain to lift the World Cup trophy twice.

After perhaps underwhelming in his first four tournaments, he was outstanding in 2022 – as Argentina won the trophy – and is now just one goal behind Kylian Mbappe in his bid to become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer.

It is remarkable to think that Messi initially retired from international football back in 2016 before changing his mind.

Sunday’s World Cup final will be his 34th appearance in the competition, but will it be the last we see of Messi in the famous blue and white stripes?

BBC Sport looks at what might be next for the great man – and could he even aim to play at a seventh World Cup in 2030?

If Messi decides to carry on with Argentina to 2030, then he would become the oldest outfield player to appear at a World Cup, at the age of 43 – unless, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo opts to keep going for Portugal.

Not only could Messi add a new record to his long list, but he would have the chance to play in one of the centenary matches held in Argentina at the start of the next World Cup.

Spanish football expert Guillem Balague doesn’t think this is the last fans will be seeing of Messi at the World Cup.

“Even if you hear it is the end, I doubt it but we’ll see. I just see him with the national side, simply because he enjoys it,” he said.

“I don’t see him being at Inter Miami in the MLS, still performing and then saying that’s it and he’s going to play out the rest of his career with Inter Miami.”

Messi’s 2026 World Cup has been nothing short of sensational. He has scored eight goals in seven games – two goals behind tournament top scorer Mbappe – and has carried Argentina into the final with a series of virtuoso performances.

Argentina boss Scaloni hailed Messi as the greatest player ever, saying: “He is history, a legend. I feel proud, he is the best footballer the world has ever seen and reaching a final at 39 is something unbelievable – and that is why I said we must enjoy him.

“With Diego Maradona, we still miss him but Messi is still with us so we must enjoy him.

“I have no idea if this is Leo’s last game, you will have to ask him. We haven’t discussed it.”

His displays in North America continue a quite remarkable late career resurgence for Messi at World Cups. Fifteen of his 21 tournament goals have come since his 35th birthday.

Having already lifted the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, Messi showed he had the motivation to keep going in 2026. The question is whether that continues to 2030.

“I feel that he hasn’t said the last word yet,” said Balague. “He finishes games, 120-minute games, at 39.

“In the first 90 minutes against Cape Verde, he covered 6.5km and 62% of that is walking.

“You can add a bit more walking. The passion is still there. All of that means he’s not going to leave the national side.”

There is also the factor of Messi playing at a World Cup in front of a home crowd.

The 2030 World Cup will have six host nations. While the majority of matches will take place in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, at least one game will be played in each of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. A world stage game in front of an Argentine crowd may be too much for Messi to resist.

Messi himself hinted that the 2022 final would be his international swansong.

“I am very happy for finishing my journey in World Cups in a final, to play the last game in a final. That is really very gratifying,” he said before the 2022 showpiece.

“There are a lot of years from this year to the next one. I don’t think I will be able to do that. To finish this way is brilliant.”

That has obviously proved to not be the case. So regardless of what might be said after the 2026 final, keep an eye on 2030.

[BBC]

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Manjot Kalra denies fixing allegations in LPL 2026

Published

7 hours ago

2026/07/19

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Jaffna Kings co-owner Manjot Kalra was taken to court in Colombo [Cricinfo]

Former India Under-19 player Manjot Kalra has been remanded by the Magistrate’s Court in Colombo until July 31, Sri Lanka police has confirmed, after he was arrested on July 16 on charges of corruption relating to the 2026 Lanka Premier League season.

Kalra, who is one of the co-owners of the Jaffna Kings franchise along with entrepreneur Mayank Goel, was produced before the court on July 17.

According to local media, the court heard that Kalra had allegedly approached players participating in LPL 2026 – Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Sri Lanka national players Dunith Wellalage and Avishka Fernando – all of whom play for the Jaffna Kings franchise. Investigators revealed in court that Kalra had allegedly offered the players over USD 30,000 to influence the outcome of games, and that they had in their possession recorded phone conversations and video evidence to support their case.

Following the initial approach, the players are said to have contacted the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports, after which they had, on instructions of the SIU, negotiated a payment of LKR 11.5 million with LKR 9.5 million as an advance. Kalra and an unnamed second person were arrested when the second person had brought a bag containing the advance payment to a pre-agreed location, according to media reports of the court proceedings.

The defence counsel rejected all allegations, asserting there was no evidence of Kalra offering or paying a bribe. Bail was sought but denied, with the Chief Magistrate stating that doing so could prejudice the investigation.

In a statement released on his behalf, Kalra denied the allegations and said he was “fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation” and “is confident that the facts will establish his innocence and clear his name”.

“Having had the privilege of representing India with honour, Mr. Kalra fully understands the responsibility and integrity expected of those associated with Indian sport. Throughout his career, he has remained committed to upholding those values,” the statement said. “Mr. Kalra became a co-owner in the league as a minority shareholder, entering the venture in good faith and with complete integrity. Prior to his association, the league conducted all requisite background and due diligence checks, which connfirmed his clean reputation.

“As the matter is currently under investigation, Mr. Kalra will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities and will refrain from making any further comments at this stage. He remains confident that the truth will prevail.

“Senior Counsel K Wasantha S Fernando, Attorney at Law and his able team of Junior Attorneys at Law are currently taking care of his interest and have expressed the confidence in disproving and negating the allegations leveled against Kalra and will ensure all possible steps are taken within the provisions of law to bring all perpetrators involved in fixing Kalra into this undesired situation to light while assisting law enforcement officers and Honorable Court to arrive at Justice in the right manner.”

The news of Kalra’s arrest broke on Friday, hours before the LPL season opener between Kalra’s team Jaffna Kings and Galle Gallants , a fixture that Kings lost by 36 runs.

[Cricinfo]