Sports

Imran steals the show!

Published

6 years ago

2021/02/25

(This article by The Island’s respected cricket columnist Rohan Wijeyaratne first appeared in these pages 16 years ago; on the 11th of June 2005. As World Cup winning former captain and current Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has just visited the island, we reproduce this article in today’s edition)

In my youth – which is to say, quite a long time ago – I would often go to the YMCA canteen for a snack and a tea after whatever business that brought me to the Fort. Doing the same recently more for old times sake than anything else, I saw a familiar figure ahead of me heading in the same direction. Quickening my step and drawing abreast, I introduced myself to the gentleman concerned. He was none other than my old school English teacher, V. Thanabalasingham.

Not just a teacher, but an Institution

Those of you who may have passed through the portals of Ananda College during the 1960s and the early 70s and no doubt been well rounded in many ways, will admit to a man that when it came to the teaching of English, the name Thanabalasingham held no peer. In his prime, he was not just a brilliant teacher but an Institution. And volumes wouldn’t suffice to do him justice – such was the impact he made on all whom he touched, be it with the brilliance of Thackeray, Dickens, Chaucer or the Direct Method English Course that served as our bread and butter in English education at the time.

Another, from a different mould

Another teacher from an entirely different mould was Upali Ratnayake, now the Executive Director of CIMA. At the time he was introduced to us at the ‘A’ level stage, he appeared to our free spirits a cut above the rest. He acquired this status by doing exactly the opposite of what he was expected to do, which was to teach us English as a preparatory step towards an easier passage through University. Upali Ratnayake actually taught us nothing. Yet we learnt a good deal off him, discussing almost everything other than the subject he was paid for! His most endearing virtue was that he never spoke to us from a great height. And in that process, he taught us one of the most lasting lessons in life.

Several decades later, I nearly fell off my chair to receive a phone call from him inviting me to the BMICH on the 28th of May where Imran Khan and Kumar Sangakkara were due to speak at the CIMA Global Leaders Summit. The topics for discussion were “Passion for Perfection” and “Ordinary people in extraordinary acts.” The topics and the speakers seemed irresistible. And so I went.

What a speech!

I wasn’t disappointed. Neither were hundreds of others present. And predictably, Imran stole the show. Blessed with a presence that would have put any Grecian god to second class status, this tall, elegant and immensely handsome man spoke with such brilliance, clarity and articulation, the end result was as gripping as it was inspiring. In his wake, those who followed appeared cumbersome and dreary, almost like how Kenny Mackay would appear after the brilliance of a vintage Sobers or a Dexter! Kumar Sangakkara having to make do with less time than was his rightful share went largely unheard, tending to speak more to his fellow panelists than his audience. He will learn. As a probable hot contender to the top post after Atapattu, there will be many more occasions where he will be required to speak in public.

“Ambition must be upgraded, never downgraded”

Imran was of the view that all humans were endowed with limitless potential. Their limits if any, were often self imposed. Those who achieved extraordinary heights were those who dared to go beyond their self imposed limits. They thought big, dreamed big and did not allow their limitations to get in the way of achieving their dreams. He drew parallels from his own experiences in cricket, his cancer hospital project and his involvement in national politics to establish the point.

The four secrets

Starting with cricket, and drawing parallels with other legends including Zaheer Abbas, Imran stressed the need for a clear vision, the hunger to succeed, the willingness to sacrifice and self belief as being the four secrets to achieve one’s vision. Self belief was a factor which Abbas, despite all his God given gifts, had in very short supply. Imran, on the other hand, was full of it (sometimes foolishly!), because he never thought he ever could lose a game each time he stepped on to a cricket field. He gave many examples of it, including the victories against the might of the ‘invincible’ West Indians in 1986 against all odds. And that, despite having requested and got, ‘neutral’ umpires in a home series in Pakistan! He just wanted to make sure that when they won, there would be none to say that the umpires had anything to do with it!

Drawing from examples of his own life, Imran said that in all one’s life, one would hear others say why something cannot be done. That if accepted, would be the start of everyone’s downward spiral. Ambition he said, must be upgraded, never downgraded. And the more you pit your mind against the winds that resist you from reaching your ambition, the stronger your mind will become. Therefore, ambition must take precedence over everything. And towards achieving that, one should be willing to sacrifice anything. “Compromise” said Imran “for your vision, but never ever on your vision.” Great words!

Why the 3rd world is the 3rd world!

Relating what made him take to politics, Imran said that the problem with the third world was that the ruling elite would put itself above the law and deprive the ordinary folk of any justice. Hence his political movement was primarily meant to establish the rule of law in his country, where the weak and the strong were equal in the eyes of the law. “No society in the history of mankind has ever progressed without the rule of the law. The reason why the third world remained the third world was because it had very poor rule of the law. The elitist types did whatever they wished and got away with it, while the common man and the small and medium industrialist were all deprived of justice.” None could have spoken a truer word!

The ways of the mafia

Imran went on to say that when fighting for the rule of Law, one would be pitted against entrenched vested interests; the most powerful elite in the country. These were those who could buy justice. In Imran’s case, these were men who were also his good friends. Yet he preferred to take on the mantle of a social pariah instead, preferring to stand steadfast to his vision. The mafia usually reacts in such situations in either of two ways. They would either eliminate you or make you join the system. Just five months after his party was formed, he was offered 30 seats in Parliament out of 270. Imran refused, because he realized he had no chance of winning against entrenched political families that controlled his country. He knew the moment he joined them, he would need to compromise with his vision. So he refused, and got wiped out at the elections.

Refusing the Prime Ministership of Pakistan

When General Musharaff took over with Pakistan’s fourth military dictatorship in its brief history, he made all the right noises such as ridding the country of “sham” democracy and so on. No sooner Musharaff formed his own party, Imran was yet again invited, this time to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan. “But when I discovered that joining his coalition meant joining the biggest crooks in the country,” he had no difficulty in refusing. He was chided for his decision by many who argued that he could have joined and then fixed things up. But Imran said the decision was easy to make, as his vision was very clear. And it was one’s vision that decided when to compromise and when not to.

Imran’s vision

Imran’s vision was an independent and credible judicial system in Pakistan. So he asked himself the question, could General Musharaff afford an independent judiciary? The answer to him was obvious. If such a judicial system prevailed, most of the powerful men in his country would be tried for treason under article six of the country’s constitution. The sentence for treason was death. And he was therefore convinced that neither Musharaff, nor those around him could afford an independent and credible judicial system. And so, with his firm “No” Imran watched his party being destroyed yet again, to one seat, in parliament. This time it was by General Musharaff himself.

(To be continued tomorrow)

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Imam unlikely to play rest of Lord’s Test after picking up left calf tear

Published

11 hours ago

2026/08/30

Priyan

Imam-ul-Haq's left calf needed attention during the Headingley Test [Cricinfo]

Imam ul Haq is unlikely to play the rest of Pakistan’s Lord’s Test against England after being diagnosed with a grade-1 tear in his left calf. He has been advised ten days of rest. Cricinfo has learned that Imam was taken for scans at stumps on day one of the ongoing Test, after which the severity of the injury became clear.

Imam remained off the field after tea on the first day and has not been in action in this Test since with Salman Agha coming in as his substitute. Imam did not come out to bat in the first innings on day two, which folded inside 38 overs as Pakistan scored only 110 in reply to England’s 290.

Before the start of the second day’s play at Lord’s, the team management had said that Imam’s participation in the match depended on his treatment from a “strain to his left calf muscle”, and fast bowler Mohammad Ali sidestepped the question after stumps on day three. “I wouldn’t be able to tell you anything about it,” he told reporters. “I am aware of his status, but the team’s medical panel is better placed to answer you better.”

Imam did come out before the start of the fourth day’s play and faced a few gentle throw-downs, with his left calf heavily strapped. He looked limited in his movements while batting and limped back after a short while with members of the support staff around him.

Imam picked up the injury while batting in the Headingley Test, which Pakistan lost by an innings and 103 runs. He needed on-field attention from the team medical panel during the first innings and had his left calf strapped over the course of his 42-run innings in which he struck a partnership worth 91 runs with Abdullah Shafique for the third wicket after which Pakistan crumbled for 171.

Imam’s likely unavailability for the second innings will be a further blow for Pakistan who are staring at a steep target to level the series with England boasting a 357-run lead after the third day. A defeat at Lord’s will give England their first Test series win since December 2024, and Pakistan’s ninth defeat in their last ten away Tests. It would also mark Pakistan’s second consecutive Test series defeat in England after the lost 1-0 on the Covid-era tour in 2020.

The third and last Test of the series begins on September 9 in Birmingham, providing enough time to Imam to recuperate from the injury.

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Vimukthi, Ayodhya hand Sri Lanka winning start to Asia Cup title defence

Published

20 hours ago

2026/08/30

Priyan

Mithali Ayodhya picked up three wickets [ACC]

Medium pacers Chethana Vimukthi and Mithali Ayodhya starred with the ball as Sri Lanka began their 2026 Asia Cup title defence with a commanding win against UAE in Dubai.

The duo, well supported by the rest of Sri Lanka’s attack, combined to bowl UAE out for 79 with one ball remaining in the innings. In reply, Chamari Athapaththu wasted no time, blasting an unbeaten 48 off 25 balls to help Sri Lanka cruise to a nine-wicket victory with 73 balls to go.

Sri Lanka ace the conditions

With conditions offering plenty for seamers, Sri Lanka captain Athapaththu opted to bowl, handing the new ball to 19-year-old slinger Ayodhya. She made an immediate impact, striking with the fourth ball of the innings, getting one to swerve late into opener Theertha Satish, who played on to her stumps to depart for a two-ball duck.

Vimukthi, making her T20I debut, then repeatedly found movement away, beating both UAE batters’ outside edges. She continued to test them outside off in her second over as well and was rewarded with her first T20I wicket when a cross-seam delivery on off held its line, beating Lavanya Keny for pace and movement as she played inside the line. The ball crashed into the top of off stump, leaving Keny bowled for just 3 off 11.

UAE’s first boundary came in the fifth over courtesy captain Esha Oza but it was their only respite in a difficult powerplay as they struggled to 22 for 2 from the first six overs.

UAE feel the pressure

Sri Lanka continued to squeeze UAE through the middle overs, with the introduction of left-arm spinner Sugandika Kumari adding to their troubles. Her second over brought a wicket, as she dismissed Oza for 18 off 24, tempting the UAE captain into a loose shot with a tossed-up delivery just outside off.

UAE would have lost another wicket soon after as Chamudi Praboda nearly had Samaira Dharnidharka stumped with a flighted delivery on off that drifted in. Dharnidharka was beaten while attempting to drive, but she just managed to ground her back foot before the wicketkeeper could whip off the bails.

UAE’s innings never really gathered momentum as they lost their fourth wicket for just 38 runs before Rinitha Rajith provided a brief spark. She struck two boundaries and looked intent on taking the attack on, while Dharnidharka also found the fence twice before falling to a slower ball from Kavisha Dilhari for 17 off 25.

Vimukthi and Ayodhya returned at the death to take two wickets each off their respective last overs to bowl UAE out for 79.

Athapaththu does it her way

Sri Lanka opener Imesha Dulani got off the mark with a boundary, setting the tone for the chase and racing through the opening three overs. Athapaththu too chipped in with big hits as the duo plundered more than half the runs required within five overs.

Athapaththu also hit the first six of the match, dancing down the track to launch Oza over mid-off. The shot also took her to 500 runs in the Women’s Asia Cup, making her the first batter to reach the milestone.

Dulani, however, was run out in unfortunate circumstances as Athapaththu drove a full delivery straight back at the bowler, whose attempted fielding effort deflected the ball onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end, catching Dulani short of her ground. But Athapaththu made sure there were no further hiccups, smashing two fours and a six in the next nine balls to help Sri Lanka coast to a win.

Scores:
Sri Lanka Women 80 for 1 in 7.54 overs (Imesha Dulani 25, Chamari Athapaththu 48*) beat UAE Women 79 in 19.5 overs (Esha Oza 18, Heena Hotchandani 10, Samaira Dhanidharka 17, Rinitha Rajith 15; Mithali Ayodhya 3-14, Chethana Vimukthi 3-16, Sugandika Kumari 2-18, Chamari Athapaththu 1-10, Kavisha Dilhari 1-09) by nine wickets

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Dinusha delivers an escape for the ages

Published

23 hours ago

2026/08/30

Thilina Walpola

The Indians were quick to congratulate Sonal Dinusha as he produced back to back hundreds at the SSC to join an elite group of players and save the second Test

by Rex Clementine

In the history of Test cricket, we have witnessed some epic rearguard actions that have saved the day.

Our coach Gary Kirsten himself once batted for 14 and half hours after England enforced the follow on in Durban. Sir Garfield Sobers did something similar when he occupied the crease for many hours to save the Lord’s Test of 1963.

Then, again at Lord’s, Mahela Jayawardene led from the front in 2006. Sri Lanka were forced to follow on after conceding a first innings deficit of 359 runs, but MJ produced a masterclass. With six other Sri Lankans posting half centuries, the tourists pulled off one of their greatest escapes.

And then, this week, came Sonal Dinusha.

What truly remarkable batting that was.

There is, however, one significant difference between Dinusha and those other greats. Kirsten, MJ and Sir Garry were all seasoned campaigners. Dinusha is a rookie playing just his fifth Test.

What was so impressive about the 25-year-old was how organised he was. He didn’t lose patience. He didn’t get carried away. There was no rush of blood.

These are hardly traits we associate with young players in modern cricket. We see them flashing outside off stump. We see them charging down the track wanting to take the spinners to the cleaners. We see them engaging opponents and getting sucked into needless scraps.

Dinusha, though, is different.

But how come? In this day and age of the IPL and instant gratification, how have we unearthed a cricketer with such temperament?

There is little doubt that this is a special kid and a special talent. Hopefully, Sri Lanka can dream big. Head Coach Gary Kirsten called it one of Sri Lanka’s finest match saving knocks.

“I love the way he plays Test cricket. He understands what the bowlers are trying to do to him. This innings today will go down in history as one of the best match-saving knocks for Sri Lanka.”

Dinusha batted for seven hours in the second innings. The fact that he had also scored a hundred in the first innings, having already made another century in Galle, makes his achievement even more extraordinary. He finished the series with 420 runs in four innings.

That was some insane batting. Let’s hope the kid keeps going.

Despite the series defeat, there were other positives for Sri Lanka. The manner in which Pasindu Sooriyabandara batted and the composure young spinner Keshara Nuwantha showcased when the team was under the cosh after yet another collapse were encouraging signs.

The lower order played impressive roles too. Lahiru Kumara batted like a champion and frankly, put some of the opening batters and the captain to shame.

Several Indian players turned up at the SSC on the final morning probably thinking this would be a quick finish and they would soon be heading home. Some might even have fancied squeezing in a bit of last minute shopping.

Dinusha and Sri Lanka’s tail had other ideas.

Those plans went out of the window as the lower order showed remarkable resolve, eating up overs and frustrating an Indian attack that had arrived expecting to administer the last rites.

“Really impressed with some of the young batters who have shown their mettle in Test match cricket. Apart from Sonal Dinusha and Pasindu Sooriyabandara, everyone put their hearts together, fighting as hard as we could to save the Test match. The character shown by everyone pleased me,” Kirsten said.

The fast bowling was top notch too. Both Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando had their moments and provided another useful reminder that Sri Lanka do not always have to turn to raging turners to win Test matches. Quicks can win you games too.