Sports

Kamil Mishara : the prodigal son returns

Published

2 years ago

2025/03/23

Kamil Mishara has been prolific this season in both club and provincial First Class cricket.

Top order batter Kamil Mishara is in the form of his life – a golden run that has lit up domestic cricket like fireworks on a moonless night. The selectors have sat up and taken notice, and if his purple patch continues, a call-up to the national side when Bangladesh tour later this year seems not just possible but probable. The 23-year-old is stacking up runs like coins in a jackpot machine – one century after another, and importantly, converting them into towering scores that tilt matches single-handedly.

In both the recently concluded Inter-Club season and the ongoing National Super League, Mishara has made First-Class cricket his own playground. He’s not merely scratching out hundreds; he’s crafting epics. The hallmark of a true champion, they say, is to not just get to three figures but to bat the opposition out of the contest – and Mishara is ticking that box with a flourish.

Last week, he carved out an unbeaten 158 for Kandy. This week, he went one better with a thunderous 172 – an innings that had elegance, timing, and the authority of a seasoned pro. Watching from the sidelines in Hambantota were national selectors Ajantha Mendis and Tharanga Paranavithana, likely taking mental notes.

Now, numbers may sometimes lie in cricket, but not here. That 158 wasn’t just another stat in the scorebook – it was a backs-to-the-wall classic. Galle had declared after piling up 602 runs. Kandy were staring down the barrel. But Mishara stood tall amidst the ruins, batting for over five hours to anchor the innings like a lighthouse in a storm.

And don’t mistake him for a one-trick pony. Mishara can shift gears like a Ferrari on an open highway. He can bat deep when the team needs resilience, or play with freedom when the tempo demands acceleration. Run-a-ball or rearguard, orthodox or flamboyant – he’s got it all in his kitbag, including that left-hander’s trademark grace.

With the selectors watching this First-Class tournament like hawks, Mishara’s name is surely being scribbled in ink rather than pencil. A call-up is around the corner. He’s no longer just a promising youngster – he’s a matured cricketer, battle-hardened by setbacks, yet refreshingly grounded. Serious about his craft, but knows how to unwind when the day is done.

There’s a touch of T.M. Dilshan in him – the Swiss Army knife kind of cricketer. There’s nothing he can’t do. He’ll open the batting, drop down the order if needed, keep wickets, bowl a bit of off-spin, and field like a panther. Off the field too, the similarities to Dilshan don’t end – charismatic, unconventional, a bit of a maverick.

Truth be told, Mishara should have nailed down his place in the Sri Lankan team by now. The runway was clear, the jet engines were roaring – until he hit turbulence of his own making.

Back in 2022, he made his T20 debut against Australia at none other than the MCG. A few months later, he was in the Test squad at the tender age of 20. The selectors clearly had him earmarked as one for the future.

He was taken to Bangladesh as back up to Niroshan Dickwella. Now, taking a young player as understudy to Dickwella is like sending a rookie MP to Mervyn Silva for lessons in parliamentary decorum. Predictably, it didn’t end well.

Mishara was sent home in disgrace midway through the Test series for a code of conduct breach. Bio-bubbles were still the norm post-COVID, and players were repeatedly warned – no visitors, no exceptions. But temptation knocked, and Mishara opened the door – literally. The ‘visitor’, caught on surveillance camera, triggered panic. The Bangladesh Cricket Board reported it to SLC, and the response was swift and stern. He was not only sent home, but also frozen out for the next three years. It was a message wrapped in barbed wire: indiscipline won’t be tolerated, no matter how talented you are.

SLC had its reasons. Mishara had a prior. During his Under-19 days, he had copped a one-year suspended sentence after being found drunk during a home series. The Bangladesh episode was the final straw. Another young gun had shot himself in the foot. Self-destruction – sadly – seems to be a recurring theme with Sri Lanka’s brightest prospects.

But credit where it’s due – Mishara hasn’t sulked. He’s rolled up his sleeves, taken the stairs back to the top, and done so with grit. The big scores haven’t been limited to the provincial stage; he was prolific for NCC as well, steering them to the Inter-Club finals and finishing as the second-highest run-scorer in the competition.

From his early days in Panadura to the bright lights of Royal College – where he earned a scholarship – Mishara’s journey has been closely watched. He turned heads in the Royal-Thomian, earned a spot in the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team, and made his senior debut not long after. The boy had pedigree, no doubt.

There’s nothing wrong in having a bit of swagger – cricket has always had room for a David Gower, a Kevin Pietersen, or a Lasith Malinga. But in our part of the world, a young player getting a tattoo or colouring his hair is often seen as a red flag. We’ve seen that movie before, and it usually ends in tears.

Yet, redemption is never out of reach. As Saint Augustine once said, “There is no saint without a past, no sinner without a future.” And perhaps that sums up Kamil Mishara best.

by Rex Clementine

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Sports

Gone with the wind

Published

1 hour ago

2026/10/9

Thilina Walpola

Dhananjaya de Silva has stepped down as Test captain

by Rex Clementine

Sri Lanka’s Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva has done an Ian Botham. No, not by pulling off a miraculous victory against Australia at Headingley, but by resigning a minute before he was sacked.

The writing had been on the wall for DDS after he got his sums horribly wrong during the recent home Test series against India. His defensive approach from day one left Sri Lanka chasing the game rather than dictating terms and the hosts eventually surrendered the series.

There had also been growing criticism of DDS’s inability to lift the side when the chips were down. His laid back attitude, particularly the sight of him cracking jokes with team mates in the SSC dressing room balcony while Sri Lanka were following on, did not go down well with the cricket establishment.

Not that DDS was doing anything out of character. By nature, he is a relaxed, easy going individual who loves his video games and rarely seems to have a worry in the world. The mistake was made by those who handed such a character the Test captaincy and then expected him to turn into a fire breathing leader overnight.

DDS was so chilled out that even SLC’s photographers had reason to complain during the India Test series when the official team photograph was being taken.

Sri Lanka have been guilty of failing to groom leaders and in recent years the captaincy has too often fallen into someone’s lap by default rather than through careful planning. The result has been a revolving door of captains, with little thought given to succession.

DDS’s successor, Kusal Mendis, is no Mike Brearley or Ian Chappell when it comes to tactical nous, but to his credit, he has worked hard in recent years to shed his bad boy image and become a more responsible cricketer.

More than anything, Mendis has discovered consistency with the bat. Equally impressive in the eyes of the authorities has been his willingness to shoulder responsibility. He has never been one to duck a challenge, even when the workload has threatened to become overwhelming.

Currently, Mendis keeps wicket in both white ball formats while batting at the top of the order. With the additional burden of becoming Sri Lanka’s all format captain, he is set to be relieved of wicketkeeping duties in Test cricket.

The selectors are now on the lookout for a replacement ahead of the Pakistan assignment, although they are unlikely to turn to Niroshan Dickwella again. That particular chapter, it seems, has been closed.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Selectors Kapila Wijegunawardene has broken his silence over Wanindu Hasaranga’s omission, confirming that the star leg-spinner had indeed been dropped rather than sidelined through injury.

Wijegunawardene made little attempt to sugar coat the selectors’ disappointment with a player whose immense talent has not always translated into performances befitting his reputation.

“Hasaranga has not lived up to expectations, to be frank,” Wijegunawardene said.

“The player understands that too. We had expected a lot of him. His knowledge of the game is immense and he has much more to offer, and we are confident he will stage a comeback,” Wijegunawardene added.

Sports

Bens record fourth win, St. Joseph Vaz bounce back with consecutive wins

Published

1 hour ago

2026/10/9

Thilina Walpola

by Reemus Fernando

‎St. Benedict’s College Kotahena completed their group stage matches with a crushing ten wickets win over St. Sebastian’s College Katuneriya while St. Joseph Vaz College Wennappuwa bounced back from their initial defeat with back to back victories to stay alive in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘B’ tournament.

‎For Bens it was their fourth victory in the tournament on Wednesday. Their only blemish this season was against Dharmaraja. The Bens recorded victories against De Mazenod Kandana (by 140 runs), St. Aloysius’ Galle (by three wickets) and Taxila Horana (by 162 runs ) before cruising to a ten wicket win aganst St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya. Manikya Deshapriya with a four wicket haul (4 for 8 in six overs) and Vihanga Rathnayaka taking three wickets rattled their opponents for 64 runs in their final group ‘A’ match.

‎Group ‘C’ became wide open on Wednesday when St. Joseph Vaz beat Ananda College by 89 runs at Ananda Mawatha.

‎Batting first, St Joseph Vaz College posted 225 for eight wickets in their alloted 50 overs, with Damesh Mathisan leading the way with a valuable 124-ball knock of 88, his most notable batting performance this season. His patient innings included eight fours and a six. Amal Denuwan added 31 off 69 balls, while Savio Fernando contributed 24.

‎In reply, Ananda were bowled out for just 136 run with Danindu Sellaperuma’s 41 being the highest contribution.

‎Amal Denuwan took four wickets for 20 runs in an outstanding spell of 8.3 overs, including two maidens. Damesh Mathisan completed an impressive all-round display taking two wickets for 28 runs.

‎Thathnula Liyanage took one, while Oshen Binara claimed two for 19.

‎In their season opening encounter St. Joseph Vaz conceeded a 66 run defeat at the hands of Maliyadeva College Kurunegala. They were bowled out for 107 runs at Kadirana.

‎In their second encounter they bounced back as their bowlers dominated reducing Devapathiraja to 79 runs. Oshen Binara (4.5-1-14-4), Mayon Fernando (4-0-16-3) and Lowthuru Dilpahan (6-0-23-2) returned notable bowling figures. Isuru Induwara (31n.o.) and Savio Fernando (23n.o.) then guided them to victory putting up an unbroken third wicket stand of 48 runs.

‎Back to back victories now has helped the school keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stage. They will meet Lyceum International Wattala and Sri Dharmaloka College Kelaniya in their next two matches.

‎The victory has wide opened group ‘C’ with three teams registering two wins each. Ananda and Devapathiraja College Ratgama are the other teams to have recorded two wins.

Sports

Kiyara to meet Risindi in the girls final

Published

1 hour ago

2026/10/9

Thilina Walpola

Kiyara Jayamanne

ATF 16 & Under Tennis

Kiyara Jayamanne is set to meet Risindi Hewawasam in the girls’ singles final after they won their semi finals of the ATF 16 & Under Colombo 2026 Week 1 tournament continued at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts.

‎Kiyara Jayamanne defeated fellow Sri Lankan Disini Samaraweera 6-3, 6-3 to book her place in the final. Risindi Hewawasam also secured a straight-set victory, overcoming Methuli Naotunna 6-2, 6-3.

‎The boys’ semi-finals saw Anthony Castigador of the Philippines dominate Sri Lanka’s Damsath Peiris, winning 6-0, 6-0. India’s Gurshaan Chahal completed the finalists’ line-up with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Sri Lankan Yonal Dankubura.