Sports

How Sri Lanka fumbled their Champions Trophy spot

Published

11 months ago

2025/02/23

Thilina Walpola

Fielding was Sri Lanka’s Achilles’ heel

by Rex Clementine

Champions Trophy, one of cricket’s biggest showpiece events is underway in Pakistan and Dubai, but conspicuous by their absence are Sri Lanka – a team that once punched above their weight at ICC tournaments. For the first time since Anura Tennekoon led Sri Lanka to their maiden ICC event, the 1975 Prudential World Cup in England, the men’s team has failed to make the cut.

How did Sri Lanka end up missing out on a tournament of the magnitude of the Champions Trophy? To be clear, this is not a witch hunt to pin the blame on individuals. Rather, it’s a post-mortem to identify where things went off the rails and, more importantly, how to avoid future embarrassments of this scale.

The warning signs had been flashing like a malfunctioning scoreboard for a while. Sri Lanka’s steady slide in the rankings due to poor bilateral performances meant they had to take the scenic route through qualifiers. Ultimately, their ninth-place finish in the 2023 World Cup in India proved to be the death knell for their Champions Trophy hopes. Only the top eight teams went through and Sri Lanka missed out.

Both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh finished with four points apiece, but Bangladesh sneaked through by the barest of margins – thanks to a slightly superior Net Run Rate. This was a case of failing to keep an eye on the fine print, a classic example of losing a game in the dressing room before even stepping onto the field.

From the outset, Sri Lanka’s preparation for the World Cup resembled a game plan scribbled on a napkin – unclear and chaotic. The selection committee, after initially deciding to replace Dasun Shanaka as captain, made a dramatic U-turn at the eleventh hour. Shanaka, in a cruel twist of fate, lasted just two games before being sidelined by injury, and the captaincy baton was hastily passed to Kusal Mendis. Burdened with leadership responsibilities, Mendis lost his golden touch with the bat and Sri Lanka lost their direction.

Fielding was Sri Lanka’s Achilles’ heel and the team management’s approach to fixing it was akin to putting a band-aid on a fractured leg. They hired a foreign fielding coach to create an illusion of progress, but the reality was starkly different. Sri Lanka finished the tournament as the worst fielding side – proof that simply ticking boxes doesn’t win matches.

Take the match against Pakistan in Hyderabad. After posting a formidable 344, Sri Lanka should have won easily. Instead, butter-fingered fielding gifted Pakistan reprieves, and they chased down the target with ten balls to spare. The lapses in the field turned what should have been a regulation win into an agonizing defeat.

Then there was the curious case of Sri Lanka’s inability to bat out 50 overs consistently. In a desperate bid to plug the hole, the selectors turned to Dimuth Karunaratne, hoping his Test match resilience would steady the ship. While the idea had merit – given Karunaratne’s solid showing in the 2019 World Cup – he was inexplicably underutilized, playing just two matches. The end result? The problem persisted, and the batting continued to implode under pressure.

Even amid the wreckage, there were glimpses of brilliance. Sri Lanka dismantled defending champions England in emphatic fashion, thanks largely to Lahiru Kumara breathing fire with the ball. He sent Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes packing, putting Sri Lanka in the driver’s seat. But just when he looked like being the X-factor, Kumara was sent home. The official word was an injury, but murmurs in cricketing circles suggested otherwise. Whatever the real reason, losing a strike bowler mid-tournament only added to Sri Lanka’s woes.

But here’s the good news – Sri Lanka has begun to turn the tide. Currently ranked No. 5 in ODIs, the team has clawed their way back through sheer grit, a clearer strategy, and, most importantly, a no-nonsense approach to discipline. Indiscipline, which once festered unchecked, is no longer tolerated. And it’s paying dividends.

Captaincy, long a poisoned chalice, has now been handed to Charith Asalanka, who is marshalling his troops with composure. The team is slowly but surely putting the heartbreak of missing the Champions Trophy behind them and is now focused on regaining lost glory.

Since their World Cup exit, Sri Lanka have beaten both India and Australia in bilateral ODI series – no mean feat, considering these two sides were finalists in the last World Cup. That’s quite the statement of intent. Adding to the feel-good factor, Maheesh Theekshana has climbed to the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI bowler rankings, becoming only the second Sri Lankan after Nuwan Kulasekara to achieve the feat.

Off the field, crucial reforms have been implemented to ensure Sri Lankan cricket regains its competitive edge. The domestic structure, once bloated and diluted, is finally being streamlined. The number of first-class teams has been reduced to 14, meaning a powerhouse like SSC will temporarily lose their first-class status after finishing at the bottom. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but credit to the authorities for having the courage to make tough calls. Next year, the number will be cut further to 12, making the tournament more competitive and weeding out mediocrity.

Additionally, the schools’ first eleven knockout matches have been extended from two to three days, and even Big Matches will now be played over three days, with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) footing the bill. This move is aimed at nurturing players who can bat long and take games deep – a skill set that has been sorely lacking in recent years.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka ‘A’ and the Under-19 teams are getting regular exposure, ensuring a robust pipeline of talent for the future.

Sri Lankan cricket has endured its fair share of setbacks, but the signs are encouraging. The team has taken its knocks, learned its lessons, and is charting a course back to the top. There’s still plenty of work to be done, but if recent performances are anything to go by, the dark days may finally be behind them.

As any seasoned cricketer will tell you, form is temporary, but class is permanent. Sri Lanka may have hit a rough patch, but the fire still burns.

All News Advertisement

Sports

Hasaranga backs Sri Lanka for World Cup semi-final push

Published

3 hours ago

2026/01/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

Sri Lanka’s leg-spin spearhead Wanindu Hasaranga has warned rivals not to write off the hosts ahead of the World Cup, after his four-wicket burst in the final T20I against Pakistan helped Sri Lanka square the three-match series on Sunday.

Hasaranga’s spell turned the game on its head and restored belief in a side that has blown hot and cold. Speaking after being named Player of the Match and Player of the Series, the leg-spinner said Sri Lanka, buoyed by home conditions, remain very much in the hunt for a semi-final berth.

Under head coach Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka have made steady strides over the past 18 months. There have been a few distractions recently like changes in selectors and captaincy among them, but the dressing room, Hasaranga insisted, is quietly confident.

“We know the conditions and we’ve grown up playing in these conditions,” Hasaranga said. “If we use them well, we can have a major impact. Players need to identify their roles. Once that happens, we can put on a good show.”

Sunday’s decider was reduced to 12 overs a side after rain delayed the start by more than two hours, but Hasaranga felt the shortened contest still offered valuable lessons.

“Today we looked good,” he said. “We’ve been lacking a bit of consistency in recent years. In a World Cup, you have to minimise mistakes and keep moving forward.”

Bowling with a wet ball tested the spinners’ skills and patience, but Hasaranga viewed it as useful match practice rather than an inconvenience.

“It was challenging with a wet ball,” he explained. “But it’s good these things happen before a World Cup. It prepares you for all kinds of situations. I even spoke to our batters about what deliveries they’d prefer to face, and that input helped when we went out to defend.”

Sri Lanka now enjoy a week’s breather before hosting England with Hasaranga keen to see his side peak at the right time.

“When this series started, we had six games leading into the World Cup,” he said. “Rain in Dambulla meant things didn’t always go to plan. As a team, we wanted winning momentum. There are only a couple of games left now and we need to be firing on all cylinders when the World Cup begins.”

Sri Lanka had stumbled in the opener, losing by six wickets after being bowled out inside 20 overs, while the second match was washed out without a toss. A 14-run win in the final game, however, ensured honours ended even.

Rex Clementine
in Dambulla

Sports

Sunil Gunawardana among contenders for top post of Sri Lanka Athletics

Published

4 hours ago

2026/01/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

It will be a four-way battle for the top post of Sri Lanka Athletics as fresh nominations for the election of office bearers closed at the Sports Ministry on Monday. Former president Sunil Gunawardana, Bimal Wijesinhge, Sugath Kumara and Prasanna Indika are the nominees for the post of president and they are subjected to objections.

‎This is the second time the Ministry of Sports called for nominations after different stakeholders successfully challanged the earlier niminations alleging that there were errors in the process.

‎Informed sources said that this time too the Ministry of Sports has left enough room for allegations as it announced the names of the nominees without waiting for the nominations sent by post.

‎”There was a fundamental error as they did not wait for nominations sent by post. They informed the stake holders by post. Some member federations had received the letters only on last Thursday. They were in a mighty hurry to announce the names of the nominees soon after the nominations closed,” a source close to athletics told The Island.

‎Following are the nominees for various posts of Sri Lanka Athletics.

‎‎President: Sunil Gunawardana, Bimal Wijesinhge, Prasanna Indika, Sugath Kumara

‎‎Vice President: Prasanna Indika, Lal Chandrakumara, Lt. Col. G.N. Jayathilaka, Irangani Rupasinghe, Jagath Silva, G.J. Siyamudali, Prasanna Aluvihare

‎‎Secretary: Dr. Dhammika Senanayake, Sameera Perera, Madawa Herath

‎Asst. Secretary: Sameera Perera, Aloy Wickramasinghe (RF)

Sports

Lakmal, Pravina win trophies at Eagles Monsoon Cup Golf Tournament

Published

4 hours ago

2026/01/13

Sahan Weerasooriya

Wing Commander Lakmal Gunewardene (Retd) won the Eagles’ Monsoon Cup Trophy. (L) / Pravina Dunuwille emerged as the Ladies' Trophy winner. (R)

Wing Commander Lakmal Gunewardene (Retd) secured the Eagles’ Monsoon Cup Trophy, achieving the highest score in the gents’ category and Pravina Dunuwille emerged as the Ladies’ Trophy winner at the fourth edition of the Eagles Monsoon Cup Golf Tournament which came to a close at the picturesque China Bay, near the harbour city of Trincomalee.

‎The Sri Lanka Air Force, in collaboration with Eagles’ Golf Links and Courses, successfully conducted the fourth edition of the Eagles’ Monsoon Cup Golf Tournament on Sunday.

‎The tournament, conducted under the Stableford Scoring System, commenced in the morning with the participation of 80 enthusiastic golfers, including 13 women golfers. The tournament was officially inaugurated when one of the former Commanders of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody, took the first tee-off.

‎Wing Commander Nalin Bentharaarachchi (Retd) claimed the Runner-up position in the Gents’ category, and Niloo Jayathilake was awarded the Ladies’ Runner-up position. In addition, Buddika Amarasinghe and Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody received accolades for the Longest Drive and Nearest to the Pin, respectively, in the Gents’ category, while Sandra Cadien secured the Longest Drive in the Ladies’ category. The Wooden Spoon was awarded to Nimal Jayasinghe.

‎The Eagles’ Monsoon Defence Challenge Trophy, presented to members of the Tri-Services in the Men’s category, was won by Wing Commander Asantha Gunaratne from the SLAF. Lieutenant Commander Mevan Perera from the SL Navy was the Runner-up of the Defence Challenge Trophy. Commodore Mangala Mummullage received the award for the Longest Drive in the Defence Challenge category.

‎The Best Total Net Score in the Six Hidden Holes competition segment was achieved by Wing Commander Lakmal Gunewardene (Retd) and Group Captain Prabath Wijekoon received the Commander’s Island Green Award for the 2025 year’s Eagles’ Monsoon Cup iteration.

‎The awards of the Eagles’ Monsoon Cup were presented at a gala Awards Ceremony held at Eagles’ Golf Links during the evening of the same day. The Director General Air Operations, Air Vice Marshal Dhammika Dias, graced the Awards Ceremony as the Chief Guest. Further, Air Chief Marshal Jayalath Weerakkodi, Chairman of SLAF Golf, Air Commodore Erandika Gunewardene, Secretary of Air Force Golf Links and Courses, Group Captain Asanka Rathnayake, Secretary of Air Force Golf, Wing Commander Thushan Fernando, Sales Manager of Aviyana Ceylon Resorts, Suranga Fernando (representing the Chairman of Aviyana Ceylon Resorts) and other golf enthusiasts attended the ceremony.

‎Adding to the prestige of the occasion, Aviyana Ceylon Resorts sponsored the tournament, enhancing its grandeur and providing a memorable experience for all participants.‎