Akbar Brothers Ltd delivered a commanding all-round performance to clinch the ‘A’ Division title at the 33rd MSBA League Basketball Tournament, defeating defending champions Fairfirst Insurance 70–60 in a thrilling final held recently.

Despite a group stage loss to Fairfirst, a revitalized Akbar Brothers team returned for the final with renewed focus, executing a strategic and disciplined game plan with some excellent passing and defense. Akbar Brothers came in with all guns blazing right from the outset. The first quarter was all Akbar’s that stacked up a 13 to 4 lead.  Fairfirst mounted a strong challenge in the second quarter, narrowing the margin, but Akbar’s momentum secured a 35–28 lead at halftime, a margin they maintained with composure through to the final whistle.

Dasun Mendis led the charge for Akbar Brothers with 18 points and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). Chenura De Alwis added 17 points to the tally, while Shehan Udayanga posted a valiant 22 points for Fairfirst. Dimitri Grebe anchored Akbar Brothers with strong leadership, with Hiran Wijesooriya captaining Fairfirst.

Earlier in the tournament Akbar Brothers beat Sampath Bank (82-71), Seylan Bank (91-68) David Pieris (110-78) and Seylan Bank in the semi final (83-60)

The final, held at the Royal College Indoor Sports Complex, saw a vibrant turnout of supporters as Akbar Brothers proved their championship mettle with teamwork, resilience, and clinical execution.

Akbar Brothers – Dimitri Grebe (Captain), Dasun Mendis, Chenura De Alwis, Randil Henry, Taher Akbarally, Selvam Savarimuttu, Franklyn Morais, Sanketha Jayarathne, Jeewan Priyankera , Praneeth Udumalagala, Ajith Kuruppu (Coach), Adrian Gabriel (Asst. Coach)

Fairfirst Insurance – Hiran Wijesooriya (Captain), Shehan Udayanga , Lakshan Kulathunga, Roshan Randima, Arnold Brent, Isuru Perera, Denzil Nicholas, Nimesh Fernando, Keshawa Perera, Charaka Anuhas, Asanga Perera (Coach)

With just six weeks to go for the World Cup that Sri Lanka will co-host, the ground appears to be shifting under the selectors’ feet. Moves are underway to replace former opening batter Upul Tharanga as Chairman of Selectors, the latest in a series of shake-ups that have gathered pace alarmingly close to the showpiece event.

First came the reshuffling of the coaching staff. Then there were strong signals that captain Charith Asalanka could be moved aside. Now the selection panel itself is set for an overhaul. One is tempted to ask whether all this chopping and changing is really necessary with the tournament looming large on the horizon.

It is true that the selectors’ term will expire by the book, a new panel must take guard. But with less than two months left before the World Cup, common sense would suggest to let the status quo remain.

Tharanga’s panel has not been flawless, but it has hardly been a basket case either. Recent weeks have produced some sobering results, including a 3-0 ODI whitewash in Pakistan and an embarrassing T20 loss to Zimbabwe. Yet the team showed resilience, regrouped and fought their way into the finals, where they eventually went down to Pakistan.

There were tangible gains too. Sri Lanka climbed to fourth in the ODI rankings and even pulled off a Test victory over England. The wheels came off mainly in the T20 format, where they failed to progress beyond the first round of the last World Cup — a shortcoming that cannot be pinned on selection alone.

If there must be a changing of the guard, logic dictates that it should wait until after the World Cup. Midstream changes at the top rarely help steady a ship already sailing in choppy waters.

What is more troubling is the prospect of a familiar face returning to the hot seat — someone under whose watch Sri Lanka endured disastrous returns. During that previous tenure, selections were muddled and knee-jerk. A poor series often meant wholesale culling, with players axed almost as soon as they were drafted in, leaving no room for continuity or confidence.

There were baffling calls too: Maheesh Theekshana fast-tracked into Test cricket on the strength of his white-ball exploits, while Dunith Wellalage was handed a Test debut before even playing a T20 International. Such horses-for-courses thinking, taken to extremes, left Sri Lanka without a clear road map.

The end result was grim. Sri Lanka finished ninth at the 2023 World Cup, failed to qualify for the Champions Trophy and for the first time in their history, missed out on an ICC event altogether.

Sri Lanka Cricket’s deeper problem is a lack of willing candidates. Few former players are keen to step into the firing line of selection, a role that guarantees brickbats regardless of results. Cornered, the board has repeatedly turned to recycled hands — men who have done the job before, with precious little to show for it.

With the World Cup just around the bend, Sri Lanka can ill afford to keep moving the goalposts. Stability, not another roll of the dice, may yet be their best play.

by Rex Clementine

It was a run-out that started it all after Sri Lanka Under-19s captain Vimath Dinsara asked Nepal Under-19s to bat first in their Group B game at the Under-19s Asia Cup. Nepal were steady at 30 without loss, but come the eighth over, Dinsara combined with wicketkeeper Aadham Hilmy to run Niraj Kumar Yadav out for 10. That started a slide, and Nepal never recovered thereafter.

Sethmika Seneviratne had Sahil Patel caught for 12 in the ninth over, bowled Vansh Chhetri for a duck in the 11th, and then had Dilsad Ali caught without scoring in the 13th. Sri Lanka reduced Nepal to 37 for 4, with the four wickets gone for the addition of just seven runs within six overs.

‎At that stage, Nepal’s captain Ashok Dhami joined Cibrin Shrestha. Just when they looked set to help Nepal find a way back, Rasith Nimsara broke the 24-run stand by having Dhami caught behind for 9 to start the 21st over. Soon, 61 for 4 became 82 all out. Vigneshwaran Akash struck next to dismiss Shrestha for 18, which was Nepal’s highest score.

No Nepal batter after Shreshta even got into double figures, while Seneviratne got two lower-order batters to complete his five-for. Seneviratne finished with 5 for 25, and left Sri Lanka’s batters with little to do.

Although Nepal had Sri Lanka at 25 for 2 in the 83 chase, that only seemed like consolation. Dimantha Mahavithana (39*) and Kavija Gamage (24*) wiped Nepal out with an unbroken stand of 59, as Sri Lanka won with eight wickets and a massive 35.1 overs to spare.

‎Scores

‎Sri Lanka U-19s 84 for 2 (Mahavithana 39n.o., Kavija Gamage 24n.o., Mandal 1-16)

‎Nepal U-19s 82 (Shrestha 18, Seneviratne 5-25, Sigera 1-3)