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Malaysia reunion rekindles ’96 magic

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Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup winning squad has been hosted in Malaysia for several events over the weekend

For every Sri Lankan, 1996 will forever remain a special year. At a time when the nation was battered by the scars of war and weighed down by uncertainty, the cricket team produced a performance for the ages. They beat India twice in their own backyard in intimidating strongholds like Delhi and Calcutta before hammering the final nail in the coffin by toppling Australia in Lahore.

Nobody believed Sri Lanka could go the distance. Yet here was a team that ripped up conventional wisdom and rewrote cricket history. More importantly, this was a side that genuinely cared for one another. Three decades on, that bond remains intact as the World Cup winners gathered in Malaysia to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their triumph on the invitation of Cricket Malaysia.

The team arrived in batches. Physiotherapist Alex Kontouris and dependable number three batter Asanka Gurusinha flew in early from Melbourne. Five players touched down on Thursday morning while captain Arjuna Ranatunga and five others arrived on Friday.

As the team bus rolled into the hotel, Ranatunga was the first to step off. Kontouris walked into the lobby to greet his old skipper only to be met with Arjuna’s trademark humour. Pointing at his lean frame, Arjuna quipped, “Zero fat.”

Kontouris, during his eight-year stint with Sri Lanka Cricket, was known as a strict disciplinarian when it came to fitness. Three decades after that giant-killing campaign, several players have understandably lost the golden touch and perhaps gained a few extra kilos too. Marvan Atapattu reminded Kontouris with a grin that his workload these days may involve keeping the old warhorses fit for one more outing.

Malaysia, with its large Indian community, has quickly recognised the champions wherever they go – airports, restaurants and shopping malls. Sanath Jayasuriya remains hugely popular. Indians can hardly forget the man who tormented their bowlers for years. Fans approach Arjuna too, although many hesitate at first, unsure whether it is really him after his dramatic weight loss. Once confirmation comes straight from the horse’s mouth, phones are out in a flash for pictures and greetings.

One question follows the team everywhere: “Where’s Murali?” The world record holder has been unable to attend due to coaching commitments in the IPL.

Gurusinha, once the hard taskmaster in charge of team discipline, has mellowed with age and now takes jokes from the younger players on the chin. Chaminda Vaas, however, was quick to remind everyone that when “Gura” was in charge during his younger days, he would not tolerate nonsense from anyone.

Hashan Tillekeratne, the ultimate team man and a batter who conquered some of the toughest assignments in cricket – scoring Test hundreds at the WACA in Australia and Centurion in South Africa, two of the quickest pitches in the world – has also joined the reunion. Carrying a slight limp, he remains doubtful for Saturday’s game. His teammates instinctively rally around to help with luggage and logistics. These men still care deeply for each other.

Ravindra Pushpakumara and Upul Chandana, the two youngest members of the World Cup-winning squad, remain the livewires of the group, keeping the atmosphere lively with endless banter.

On Friday, the historic Royal Selangor Club, founded by the British in 1884, hosted the team for a gala dinner. On Saturday, the champions will conduct a coaching clinic for more than 150 youngsters before taking part in a T20 exhibition game later in the day.

Rex Clementine
in Kuala Lumpur



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Scotland face West Indies with a chance to reopen World Cup wounds

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Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce is in good form with both bat and ball [Cricinfo]

Scotland take on West Indies in Leeds at 18:30 local time (17:30 GMT) in Group 2 of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.  Both teams won their opening matches in this competition – Shemaine Campbelle’s unbeaten 90 aided by New Zealand’s dropped catches saw West Indies emerging victorious, while a strong all round performance from Scotland brushed aside Ireland.

Scotland and West Indies have played each other only three times across formats – their lone T20I meeting coming at the last World Cup. Crucially, though, Scotland dealt West Indies perhaps their biggest blow in recent times with their win in the Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifier last year. Scotland staved off an all-round show from Hayley Matthews to eke out an 11-run win, denying West Indies a chance to qualify for the ODI World Cup last year.

Coming on the back of a comfortable win, expect Scotland to go in unchanged.

Scotland (probable XI): Darcey Carter, Katherine Fraser, Kathryn Bryce (capt),  Sarah Bryce (wk),  Ailsa Lister, Megan McColl, Priyanaz Chatterji, Rachel Slater,  Chloe Abel,  Kirstie Gordon,  Gabriella Fontenla

West Indies head coach Shane Deitz had said that Chinelle Henry was close to playing their opening game. If fit, she can add heft to their lower-middle order as well as the bowling department.

West Indies (probable XI): Qiana Joseph, Hayley Matthews (capt),  Shemaine Campbelle (wk),  Deandra Dottin,  Jahzara Claxton/Chinelle Henry,  Jannillea Glasgow,  Aaliyah Alleyne, Zaida James,  Shawnisha Hector,  Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack

Players to watch:

Kathryn Bryce: The Scotland captain had a big role to play in their first win at this T20 World Cup. She scored a rapid half-century and picked up two wickets against Ireland. Bryce has picked up at least one wicket in 11 of the 12 T20Is she has played this year, apart from being consistent with the bat. Her experience of playing regularly in England’s domestic circuit could be key for Scotland against West Indies.

Deandra Dottin: She was at her brutal best in the last iteration of the T20 World Cup (strike rate 165.54, average 39.4, 12 sixes) but since the start of 2025, Dottin has only one T20I half-century at a strike rate of 122.84. Dottin had scored an unbeaten 15-ball 28 the last time she faced Scotland. Can she find her mojo back against them?

While Australia’s bowlers bulldozed Bangladesh, India’s batters made merry to show the batting-friendly nature of the surface in Leeds. Weather wise, the evening is likely to become cooler, with temperatures ranging from 19 to 22 degrees Celsius. There is no forecast of rain, even though it grew slightly overcast towards the start of Netherlands’ innings on Wednesday.

[Cricinfo]

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Sooryavanshi to have parents with him on tour of Ireland and England

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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is currently playing for India A in Sri Lanka [SLC]

The BCCI has allowed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s parents to accompany their son on his maiden India tour of Ireland and England in June and July to help the 15-year-old cope with any challenges that may arise. The board secretary Devajit Saikia said the BCCI would cover their expenses on the trip.

“You see, not all national teams at the senior level have a 14 or 15-year-old in their squad. After many decades, we have someone like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi,” Saikia told PTI. “At one point in time, it was Sachin Tendulkar who made it to the national team at such a young age. When such a young kid is part of the senior team, there are obviously a lot of issues that can crop up.

“Therefore, to make him comfortable and help him get used to an adult environment, where all the other players are above 18 years of age, and the team management members are also adults, we felt it would be helpful.

“We are doing this because we believe it will ease a lot of issues as far as Vaibhav is concerned.”

Sooryavanshi was picked in India’s T20I squad for the first time following a stellar IPL 2026 season in which he top-scored with 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30, winning the Orange Cap, the MVP, and Emerging Player awards.

He is currently in Sri Lanka, representing India A for the first time, in a 50-over tri-series against Afghanistan A and Sri Lanka A, and became the focal point of an on field confrontation that involved physical contact during the game against the hosts.

While no official sanctions have been announced for any code of conduct breaches, the A-team tri-series falls within the jurisdiction of the host board – Sri Lanka Cricket – and not the ICC or BCCI. Saikia dismissed the notion of the BCCI taking any action.

“A lot of things are going on in the social media that BCCI is contemplating action, etc. Do you want BCCI to step into the domain of match referee?” Saikia said. “The BCCI is not an authority, we should not intrude into the area where the match referee and the umpires are the main persons who can take any decision regarding any incident that had happened in the playground.

“Whatever had happened, it was a part of the game, and the BCCI have no role to play. The role is of the match referee. If anything is going wrong, he will take a call, the umpires will take a call, and there is a system in place.”

Sooryavanshi has so far scored only 117 runs with a high score of 44 in four innings in the tri-series , but those runs have come at a strike rate of 153.94. India A have qualified for the final in Dambulla on June 21.

[Cricinfo]

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Luis Diaz, Colombia defeat World Cup 2026 debutants Uzbekistan

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Colombia's Luis Diaz celebrates scoring their second goal [Aljazeera]

Colombia opened their World Cup Group K campaign with a 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan at the Estadio Azteca on Wednesday, as Daniel Munoz, Luis Diaz and Jaminton Campaz ⁠struck to overcome a spirited second-half response from the tournament debutants.

Uzbekistan were disciplined for long periods under their Italian coach Fabio Cannavaro, but Colombia’s greater quality stood out in front of a crowd of over 80,000 on a cool, rain-tinged evening in Mexico City.

Colombia the Copa ⁠America runners-up, had early sights of goal through Jhon Arias and James Rodriguez, but Uzbekistan sat deep, scrapped gamely and waited for mistakes. Bekhruz Karimov almost profited when he burst forward, only for Jhon Lucumi to intervene before he could shoot.

Diaz had the clearest chance of the opening half when he struck the post, before Abdukodir Khusanov slid in after the winger ‌had knocked the ball past him, taking out both the Colombian player and a pitchside cameraman who required medical treatment.

Uzbekistan’s resistance finally cracked in the 40th minute. Diaz gathered the ball after an attack had broken down and clipped a fine pass into the path of Munoz, who guided home a neat finish for his third international goal.

The large  Colombian contingent erupted, their yellow shirts making the Azteca look and sound almost like home. Chants of “Vamos Colombia”, adapted from a Club America-style chorus, rolled around the ground, while Uzbekistan’s small band ⁠of supporters answered with drums of their own.

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group K - Uzbekistan v Colombia - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico - June 17, 2026 Colombia's Luis Diaz celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Eloisa Sanchez
Colombia’s Luis Diaz celebrates scoring their second goal [Aljazeera]

Uzbekistan improved after the ⁠break and equalised on the hour with the country’s first World Cup goal.

Dostonbek Khamdamov fed Eldor Shomurodov, whose shot from the right side of the box was saved low by Camilo Vargas. The goalkeeper could not hold it, however, and Abbosbek Fayzullaev nodded in the rebound from ⁠close range.

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group K - Uzbekistan v Colombia - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico - June 17, 2026 Uzbekistan's Abbosbek Fayzullaev celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Eloisa Sanchez
Abbosbek Fayzullaev celebrates scoring Uzbekistan’s first World Cup goal [Aljazeera]

However, Uzbekistan’s joy lasted only five minutes.

Gustavo Puerta released Diaz in the 65th minute, and the forward side-footed across goal to restore Colombia’s lead. The crowd ⁠responded with chants of “Lucho, Lucho”.

Uzbekistan kept pushing. Akmal Mozgovoy shot narrowly off ⁠target in stoppage time, Karimov hit the bar with an effort from distance, and Azizbek Amonov had a shot blocked after Otabek Shukurov’s pass.

But Colombia had the final word, Campaz scoring in the ninth minute of stoppage time to settle a contest in which Nestor Lorenzo’s side had 15 attempts to Uzbekistan’s nine, ‌and extended their strong recent group-stage record to seven wins in eight World Cup matches.

Colombia face DR Congo on Tuesday in Guadalajara, after Uzbekistan play Portugal on the same day in Houston.

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group K - Uzbekistan v Colombia - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico - June 17, 2026 Colombia's Jaminton Campaz celebrates after the match REUTERS/Eloisa Sanchez
Colombia’s Jaminton Campaz celebrates after the match [Aljazeera]

[Aljazeera]

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