Sports
Extra ODI added to Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka
An extra ODI has been added to Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka which will provide the visitors additional preparation for the Champions Trophy.
The two matches will now take place on February 12 and 14 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and will be day games.
The first of the games begins just two days after the scheduled fifth day of the second Test in Galle so it remains to be seen how many players featuring in that match can turnaround for the one-dayer if the Test goes the distance.
However, Australia have nine players in their preliminary Champions Trophy squad who aren’t part of the Test series, including captain Pat Cummins and fellow quick Josh Hazlewood.
But Cummins’ participation remains uncertain as he is carrying an ankle injury which he played with during the India Test series.
Australia’s ODI players are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka around the start of the second Test. Their first match in the Champions Trophy is against England on February 22 followed by South Africa on February 25 and Afghanistan on February 28.
The first semi-final will take place in Dubai on March 4 with the second in Lahore on March 5 following confirmation of the hybrid model due to India not traveling to Pakistan. The final will be on March 9, in either Dubai or Lahore depending on whether India qualify.
(Cricinfo)
Sri Lanka have added Vijayakanth Viyaskanth to their T20I squad ahead of the tri-series against Pakistan and Zimbabwe.
Viyaskanth is currently in Doha and is a part of Lanka ‘A’ team in the ongoing ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 and was to fly to Pakistan from Qatar to join the senior national team for the tri-series.
Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Janith Liyanage, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga
Tri-series schedule:
November 18: Pakistan v Zimbabwe
November 20: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe
November 22: Pakistan v Sri Lanka
November 23: Pakistan v Zimbabwe
November 25: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe
November 27: Pakistan v Sri Lanka
November 29: Final
Carlos Alcaraz says he is “heartbroken” after withdrawing from Spain’s Davis Cup Finals team because of injury.
World number one Alcaraz, 22, who was beaten by Jannik Sinner at the ATP Finals on Sunday, says he has been advised not to compete because of swelling in his right hamstring.
Spain face the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup quarter-finals in Bologna, Italy on Thursday.
Spaniard Alcaraz, who won the French and US Open titles this year to take his career Grand Slam tally to six, wrote on Instagram external that playing for his country was the “greatest thing there is”, adding: “I’m going home heartbroken…”
World number two Sinner – the four-time Slam winner – and team-mate Lorenzo Musetti are both missing from Italy’s team, leaving Germany’s Alexander Zverev, the world number three, as the only top-10 ranked player at the eight-team finals.
The Spanish tennis federation said Alcaraz felt “physical discomfort” in the back of his thigh during the first set of his 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 final defeat in Turin by 24-year-old Sinner.
Alcaraz travelled to Spain’s training camp on Monday but medical tests revealed “significant muscle strain with marked oedema” in his hamstring.
He secured the year end world number one ranking last week after reaching the knockout stages of the ATP Finals with three straight wins.
[BBC]
For the 18th consecutive year, Ceylon Agro Industries Ltd (Prima Group Sri Lanka) has partnered with Sri Lanka Cricket to sponsor the Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League (SLYL) 2025.
The sponsorship presentation was held at the auditorium of the Singhaleses Sports Club on Monday evening.
SLYL is organized under the National Pathway Program of Sri Lanka Cricket, and the tournament provides players a national-level platform to perform and elevate to the next level in a bid to reach the national stage.
The 50-over tournament consisting of five Super Provincial Teams namely, Colombo North, Colombo South, Dambulla, Galle, and Kandy, will be played across five grounds in Colombo from 19th to 28th November 2025. The semi-finals will take place on the 26th of November and the finals on the 28th of November at the Thurstan College Cricket Ground.
Sri Lanka has seen several youth players emerge through the Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League and go on to represent the country as national players. Since 2007, Prima Group Sri Lanka has proudly served as the official sponsor of the Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League.
Speaking at the event, Sajith Gunaratne, General Manager of Ceylon Agro Industries, Prima Group Sri Lanka said “The Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League reflects our enduring commitment to nurturing grassroots cricket in the country. For nearly two decades, we have worked closely with Sri Lanka Cricket to create opportunities for young players to discover their potential. Observing many of them ascend through the ranks to represent the nation brings immense satisfaction”.
In a video clip aired at the launch captain of the National White Ball Team Charith Asalanka said “I had the privilege of taking part in the 2011-2012 editions of the Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League, and it was a great opportunity for us at the time, and I believe it will be the same for the young players participating this year,” .
Kamindu Mendis, who took part in the 2012 and 2013 editions of the tournament, noted that the tournament played a vital role in shaping his early cricketing journey.
Sri Lanka’s opening batsman Pathum Nissanka, recalling his memories of playing in the tournament in the 2013 edition, expressed his confidence that the tournament will continue to serve as a valuable platform for young players to showcase their skills.
The Prima Under-15 Sri Lanka Youth League 2025 remains one of the most anticipated youth cricket events in the country, providing a valuable platform for young players to showcase their talent and gain recognition.
The captains of the five provincial teams unveiled the ‘Prima Trophy’ [pic by PRIYAN DE SILVA]
Vijayakanth Viyaskanth added to Sri Lanka squad for tri-series
Purchasing of 2025 green gram harvest
Cabinet approves the completion 74 bridges under the Rural Bridge Program
‘Heartbroken’ Alcaraz pulls out of Davis Cup Finals
Parliamentary Pension Act No. 1 of 1971 to be repelled
Cabinet nod to appoint Dr. (Eng.) K. Waligepolage as Director General of Irrigation
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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