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Excitement as Chameera returns to domestic cricket

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Dushmantha Chameera

by Rex Clementine

There was excitement yesterday as fuel prices came down and you may say that there was an equal amount of joy as fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera made a return to domestic cricket. The nation’s quickest bowler went down with a calf strain during Sri Lanka’s disastrous T-20 World Cup campaign in Australia last year.

 It was disastrous because half a dozen players broke down during the series and Sri Lanka failed to make an impact although there was lot of hope after the team had won the Asia Cup. The biggest casualty of them all was Chameera, on whom the team had pinned much hope for the Word Cup.

 Chameera had been nursing another ankle injury and when he went down with the calf injury, it was decided to go ahead with the surgery on the ankle and he has returned after five months.

 Ideally, Sri Lanka would want to wrap Chameera on a cotton wool and unleash him in June when they will in all probability play the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe.

 Chameera’s pace could be unsettling for opposition batsmen as he clocks above 140 kmph constantly. Lahiru Kumara too can generate pace above 140 kmph but the specialty of Chameera is that he has got good control and doesn’t send down too many loose deliveries.

 Chameera and Dasun Shanaka, both from Maris Stella College, Negombo represented the Sri Lankan side around the same time dating back to 2014. While Shanaka has made steady progress going onto become Sri Lanka’s captain winning the Asia Cup, Chameera has been fully fit only in brief spells.

 Although there’s been never a doubt about Chameera’s place in the side as he has impressed the selectors with his smooth action and extra pace, injuries have taken their toll.

 To their credit the medical staff and the team management had managed Chameera’s workload well but despite this he broke down last year. They will be more cautious this time around as this being a World Cup year.

 The national cricket team will be buoyed by the return of Kusal Perera as well by June for the World Cup qualifiers. KJP is currently in New Zealand with the national cricket team but he has been only picked for T-20 cricket. The opening batman has not played any international cricket since November 2021 having undergone shoulder surgery.

 With KJP and Chameera in their ranks, Sri Lanka should cruise through the qualifying round of the World Cup.



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Australia great Alyssa Healy to retire from cricket

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Alyssa Healy made her Australia debut as a 19-year-old in February 2010 (BBC)

Australia captain Alyssa Healy will retire from all forms of cricket following the upcoming series against India.

The 35-year-old wicket-keeper has more than 7,000 runs and 275 dismissals to her name in all formats of the game and led Australia to a historic 16-0 whitewash of England 8n the Ashes in 2025.

She has won the World Cup twice, with the highest individual score of 170 in a World Cup final  coming against England in 2022, and the T20 World Cup on six occasions.

Healy said: “I’m still passionate about playing for Australia, but I’ve somewhat lost that competitive edge that’s kept me driven since the start, so the time feels right to call it a day.

“I’ll genuinely miss my team-mates, singing the team song and walking out to open the batting for Australia. Representing my country has been an incredible honour and I’m grateful for one last series in the green and gold.”

Healy is married to Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc and is the niece of another Australian great in wicket keeper Ian Healy. She also already has a successful broadcasting career as a pundit and commentator.

Todd Greenberg, Cricket Australia CEO said: “Alyssa is one of the all-time greats of the game and has made an immeasurable contribution both on and off the field over her 15-year career.

“We look forward to celebrating her achievements throughout the series against India.”

Australia host India in a Test match, three one-day internationals and three T20 matches in February and March

(BBC Sports)

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Grace Harris’ day out helps RCB thump Warriorz

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Grace Harris celebrates her 22-ball fifty with gusto (Cricinfo)

They began with a scrappy last-ball win to kick off  WPL 2026, but there was nothing scrappy about Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) second win, over  UP Warriorz, on Monday night.

Grace Harris tore into her former franchise with a breathtaking assault, sending the ball to all parts of the DY Patil Stadium. By the time she was out for a 40-ball 85, RCB needed just seven runs to win with 50 deliveries remaining.

In an effort similar to her opening-night honours, Lauren Bell swung the new ball and troubled Warriorz’s openers in her first two overs. In trying to break the stranglehold, Harleen Deol attempted to jailbreak in her third, but could only spoon a catch to Smriti Mandhana at mid-off for a 14-ball 11. And just like that, UP Warriorz had seen two different opening pairs come and go without giving them the start they were after.

She was denied a wicket in her first over – the sixth of the innings – when Meg Lanning’s swipe landed agonisingly short of Arundhati Reddy at backward square leg, but Shreyanka Patil had Lanning hack uncharacteristically to Radha Yadav at deep midwicket off her next.

In the same over, she also had a second wicket when Phoebe Litchfield flat-batted a short ball straight to Mandhana at mid-on, shortly after having reverse-swept her for six

Coming off a four-for and an unbeaten half-century against Mumbai Indians, de Klerk began with two wickets off her first two deliveries. Kiran Navgire fell first when she heaved a length ball to cow corner, while Shweta Sehrawat was brilliantly caught at backward point by Reddy. Warriorz were in all sorts of trouble at 50 for 5.

This was the perfect fire-and-ice combination on paper. But on Monday, they were both mellower and batted risk-free for much of their unbeaten 93-run partnership. Deandra Dottin signalled a change of intent when she went after Patil in her third over – the 15th – by muscling a length ball for six over long-on. That galvanised both batters to break free; Deepti Sharma gave the perfect finish by going after Patil in a 15-run final over that helped them finish with 143.

With two rookies in their top four, RCB could’ve chosen to play safe by having Gautami Naik partner Mandhana. But they took the aggressive route, and Harris justified that decision by muscling a 22-ball half-century as RCB wiped out 78 in the powerplay alone.

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AFCON 2025 organisers investigate clashes at Nigeria, Morocco games

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Nigeria's Raphael Onyedika, Algeria's goalkeeper Luca Zidane and other players argue at the end of their AFCON 2025 quarterfinal at the Grand Stadium in Marrakesh, Morocco on January 10 (BBC)

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has opened an investigation and warned of possible disciplinary action for “unacceptable behaviour of players and officials” as they clashed on the pitch on Saturday at the end of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarterfinal between Algeria and Nigeria.

“CAF has referred the matters to the disciplinary board for investigation and has called for appropriate action to be taken if the identified persons were to be found guilty of any wrongdoing,” said African football’s governing body in a statement on Monday.

Tensions spilled over on the pitch at the end of the January 10 game in Marrakesh, Morocco, which Nigeria won 2-0 thanks to second-half goals by Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams.

Referee Issa Sy was shielded from irate Algeria team staff and was escorted off the field. Video clips showed Sy was still being pursued in the mixed zone for media and broadcasters as he made his way to his cabin.

Any disciplinary action could have an impact on the Super Eagles as they prepare for their semifinal showdown on Wednesday against Morocco.

“CAF strongly condemns any inappropriate behaviour which occurs during matches, especially those targeting the refereeing team or match organisers,” CAF said.

Video showed accredited media fighting in the mixed zone as they waited for players to pass through for interviews after the match.

issa Senegalese referee Issa Sy leaves the pitch after the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) quarter-final football match between Algeria and Nigeria at the Grand stadium in Marrakesh on January 10, 2026. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)
Senegalese referee Issa Sy leaves the pitch after the match between Algeria and Nigeria [BBC]

Algeria’s federation also confirmed it had filed a complaint with CAF over Sy’s performance

“The Algerian Football Federation cannot ignore the refereeing performance observed during the last match, which raised numerous questions and caused considerable confusion,” it said in a statement.

“Certain decisions ‌have damaged the credibility of African refereeing and do nothing to enhance the value of continental football on the international stage.”

CAF said it was also investigating incidents in Friday’s last-eight tie between the hosts and Cameroon.

Morocco won that game 2-0 in Rabat, Morocco, and the Indomitable Lions were notably unhappy at the officiating in particular the refusal to award them a penalty for a challenge on Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo in the second half.

(BBC Sports)

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