Sports
How Ian Pieris and Skanda got international cricket back to Sri Lanka
by Rex Clementine
There was no international cricket played in Sri Lanka for five years between 1987 to 1992 due to the war.
The ICC meeting in June of 1991 at Lord’s in London was very crucial for Ian Pieris and S. Skandakumar as it was the last one they would attend as Cricket Board President and Secretary, having assumed office in 1989.
They knew they had to do something special to wrest back the home advantage for our cricketers.
As they prepared to leave for that meeting they were informed that the Prime Minister of England the Rt Hon John Major, a keen cricket follower, would host a reception at No 10, Downing Street for all the ICC delegates at the end of the first day’s sessions.
It was a testing time for Sri Lanka’s diplomatic relations as David Gladstone, the British High Commissioner had been declared persona non grata and sent back, and Britain delayed naming a replacement.
The Chairman of MCC at that time was Mike Melluish, a Cambridge colleague of Sri Lankan Board President Ian Pieris!
Skanda took a sterling silver tray with him as a token gift to the PM, and joined the other delegates led by ICC Chairman Sir Colin Cowdrey outside No 10, where security was tight as Britain was having its own share of violence from the IRA .
As they queued to be ushered in, Skanda observed that he was the only one with a parcel in hand, and whispered this to Ian.
With a grin and in his typical way Ian said ” It was your bloody idea so you take it in “
So as Skanda was announced in, he shook hands and handed the gift, “A token Mr. Prime Minister from Sri Lanka.” The PM opened the box , looked at it and said , “You mean you brought this all the way from Sri Lanka “?
“Yes Prime Minister,” was Skanda’s reply and he joined the others in the reception hall.
After all the guests had been ushered in the PM’s Assistant tapped Skanda on his shoulder and said “The Prime Minister would like to have a word with you sir.”
When Skanda went back the PM said “That was very thoughtful of you. Let’s do a picture together.”
They did that and as Skanda was leaving the reception PM’s Assistant said in a low tone “I think you did something today for Anglo-Sri Lanka relations sir.”
The next day while they were at sessions at Lord’s, there was a knock on the Committee room door.
“A letter for Mr. Skandakumar of Sri Lanka from the Prime Minister’s office” was the announcement !
“I wish we had mobile phones then to record the expression on the face of every one round the table!” Skanda said when The Island inquired him about the incident.
“It was only the photo with a thank you note for the gift but the announcement did have an impact on all present and I made no effort to disclose the contents in the envelope!” Skanda told The Island.
Starting on this positive note, Ian and Skanda, with a tour confirmed by ever friendly Australia in hand were able to go round the table and get every Test playing country including South Africa, (readmitted only at that meeting as a Test playing Nation) to confirm tours to Sri Lanka between 1992 and 1994.
In a brief address to the Chair, Skanda said ” Mr Chairman, it’s ten years since we became a Test playing Nation and the West Indies are yet to visit us.”
Sir Clyde Walcott, representing West Indies immediately put both his hands up and said ” We are coming ” !
The photo itself was not without its share of additional drama as newspapers published it on their return, and George Steuarts travel business had a boost when a rumour went around that ticketing through them would guarantee a visa to UK as the Company‘s MD was a friend of the British Prime Minister!
On that happy note, Skanda and Ian were able to sign off an otherwise hugely challenging term in Honorary Office.
Sri Lanka survived an early onslaught to qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup Super Eights, leaving Australia right at the exit door and hoping for a miracle.
The returning captain Mitchell Marsh and the returning-to-runs Travis Head were brutal in taking Australia to 104 in the first 50 legal deliveries, but some spectacular fielding and spin bowling helped Sri Lanka take 10 for 77 off the last 70 balls.
In front of a partying full house in Pallekele, Sri Lanka’s two most prolific batters, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, brought out both the axe and paper cuts to slice through the chase. Nissanka, who had earlier dropped Glenn Maxwell and then dismissed him with a stunner, went on to score an unbeaten hundred and take Sri Lanka home with two overs to spare.
In the absence of Matheesha Pathirana, who walked off with a calf injury in his first over, their spinners contributed six wickets to go with excellent closing from Dushmantha Chameera. Australia’s lead spinner Adam Zampa, among the best T20 spinners of all time, took no wicket and was lucky to go for only 41 in his four overs.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 184/2 in 18 overs [Pathum Nissanka 100*, Kusal Mendis 51, Pavan Rathnayake 2*; Marcus Stoinis 2-41] beat Australia 181/10 in 20 overs [Mitchell Marsh 54, Travis Head 56, Josh Inglis 27, Glenn Maxwell 22; Dushmantha Chameera 2-56, Maheesh Theekshana 1-37, Dushan Hemantha 3-37, Dunith Wellalage 1-33, Kamindu Mendis 1-19] by eight wickets
[Cricinfo]
A win against Canada in their first T20I against them on Tuesday will firm up New Zealand’s spot in the Super Eight. This result will also knock out Canada; South Africa have already qualified for the next round from Group D with three wins in as many games.
New Zealand have faced Canada just three times in international cricket so far – each time in ODI World Cups. Their most recent meeting coming in the 2011 edition in Mumbai. They have won all three games and are poised to make it 4-0 against Canada in World Cups, despite the absence of Lockie Ferguson. The fast bowler has returned home for the birth of his first child and is expected to link up with the side ahead of the Super Eight. In Ferguson’s absence, Kyle Jamieson, who wasn’t even in the main squad in the first place, is set to make his T20 World Cup bow.
As for Canada, they had their moments against South Africa and UAE but they have failed to convert those into wins. On Friday in Delhi, they had UAE at 66 for 4 in the 13th over in a chase of 151, but they left the door ajar for Aryansh Sharma and Sohaib Khan to sneak home. Canada can’t afford such slip-ups against New Zealand – and then Afghanistan – if they are to notch up a win in this World Cup.
Kyle Jamieson doesn’t quite have Ferguson’s express pace, but can bang it away on a hard length and stifle the opposition batters. He also has some slower variations in his repertoire and his high-arm release could pose a big threat, especially to batters who are facing him for the first time.
Once known as “Vettori” in Canada’s club cricket circuit, Saad Bin Zafar will run into the team that was once captained by one of his heroes. The Canada left-arm spinner often attacks the stumps and keeps it tight, as his economy rate of 6.02 across 67 T20Is suggests. At 39, Saad knows he won’t be playing the game for long and will be eager to cause a few upsets on the big stage.
Jamieson is set to slot in for Ferguson unless New Zealand want to give veteran legspinner Ish Sodhi a game.
New Zealand (probable): Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (capt), Jimmy Neesham, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy
Canada are likely to play the same XI that lost to South Africa and UAE.
Canada (probable): Dilpreet Bajwa (capt), Yuvraj Samra, Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva (wk), Harsh Thaker, Saad Bin Zafar, Jaskaran Singh, Dilon Heyliger, Kaleem Sana, Ansh Patel
[Cricinfo]
Sri Lanka fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana left the field four balls into his first over, after collapsing to the ground clutching his left calf, and did not return to the field during Sri Lanka’s bowling innings against Australia. Having briefly received treatment from the Sri Lanka physiotherapist immediately after sustaining the injury, Pathirana hobbled off the field with assistance from support staff.
He then spent the majority of the innings being treated in the dressing room. Sri Lanka will likely send him off for scans as soon as the match finishes.
“Matheesha Pathirana experienced discomfort in his left leg calf while bowling during the match and was unable to continue,” a statement read. “He will not bowl further in this game. A scan will be conducted tomorrow to determine the extent of the injury.”
Pathirana had begun well against Australia, bowling two dot balls and giving away three runs (including a wide) in those first four deliveries. The last two balls of the over were delivered by Dasun Shanaka, who gave away a four and bowled a dot.
Pathirana is the quickest bowler in Sri Lanka’s attack, and a key part of their death-bowling plans for the tournament in particular. He is also the second Sri Lanka bowler to come under an injury cloud, with Wanindu Hasaranga already having been ruled out of the World Cup with a hamstring injury of his own.
After this game against Australa, Sri Lanka have another group match to play, against Zimbabwe. They have not earned qualification for the Super Eights yet.
(Cricinfo)
Nissanka ton stuns Australia, puts Sri Lanka in Super Eights
New Zealand eye Super Eight spot against Canada
Pathirana under injury cloud as he leaves the field early
Raza: Win over Australia ‘will count for nothing if we slip up now’
Kusal Perera in as Sri Lanka bowl; Marsh returns for Australia
Jacks the star as England qualify for Super Eights with nervy win
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