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Mathews left out of World Cup qualifiers

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by Rex Clementine  

Sri Lanka’s selectors have left out former captain Angelo Mathews from the World Cup Qualifiers that will begin in Zimbabwe shortly. There was not much change from the squad announced for the bilateral series against Afghanistan with the only omission being that of Mathews.

Mathews had made a comeback to the ODI side when Sri Lanka toured New Zealand a couple of months back and was dropped after the first ODI against Afghanistan. Since making a comeback to the ODI side in more than two years, Mathews had managed scores of 12, 0 and 18.

However, if hard hitting batsman Kusal Perera hadn’t recovered from a hamstring injury, Mathews was expected to be part of the squad for Zimbabwe, despite not having a big knock to his name. It was leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha who was expected to miss out but the selectors have chosen to pick two leg-spinners with Wanindu Hasaranga being the number one pick.

As for Kusal Perera, the hopes of him recovering in time for the qualifiers have faded away. The batsman returned to international cricket after shoulder surgery in New Zealand but featured only in T-20 cricket. Even if he wasn’t picked for the Afghanistan series, he was tipped to make it to the World Cup Qualifiers but his hamstring is continuing to give trouble.

Sri Lanka will be pleased that Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Kumara have recovered from injuries and the team’s hopes of earning one of the two remaining slots for the World Cup are very much high.  Extra pace is going to be vital against associate countries who’ll be featuring in the qualifying round. Even Afghansitan were shaken up by the pace as Chameera and Kumara claimed the top six wickets with the new ball in the deciding third ODI where the tourists were shot out for 116.

The lack of left-arm variety in the attack is cause for some concern but the selectors seem to be adamant that they have got all bases covered.   The return of Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne to the ODI side is the biggest plus point as Sri Lanka had struggled to bat out their 50 overs in recent months. The irony is that the same selectors who axed him have recalled him.

Sri Lanka Squad:

Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Kusal Mendis (Vice-Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya De Silva, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha



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Dharshana fit for Asian Athletics Championship

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Aruna Dharshana

Sprinter Aruna Dharshana, whose participation at the upcoming Asian Athletics Championship was in doubt due to an injury, proved his fitness for next week’s event with an impressive performance at the fitness test conducted in Colombo on Wednesday.

Dharshana completed 300 metres in a time of 33.41 seconds at the Sugathadasa Stadium to the satisfaction of track and field authorities.

Sri Lanka Athletics announced Dharshana’s effort as ‘successful’ after the 26-year-old completed the test. That will make him eligible for his pet event the 400 metres and the two relay events, the men’s 4×400 metres and the 4×400 metres mixed relay.

He had to prove his fitness for the event in South Korea following an injury he sustained at the recently held World Relays in China.

Dharshana was a key member of the team that established a new championship record in winning the men’s 4×400 metres relay at the last edition. He was also part of the team that won silver in the mixed relay.

The Asian Championship is vital for all track and field athletes as it opens a valuable opportunity to improve their world rankings and earn qualifying standards for the World Championships which will be held in Tokyo, Japan later this year.

by Reemus Fernando

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Gateway students shine on the international stage

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Gateway College proudly celebrates the achievement of nine outstanding students who have been selected to represent Sri Lanka in three major sporting disciplines – football, squash and athletics. This remarkable milestone highlights the school’s commitment to holistic education, where excellence is pursued both inside and outside the classroom.

Gateway encourages every student to discover and nurture their talents with the support of expert coaches, modern facilities and a school culture that values discipline, passion, and perseverance. These international selections are a reflection of that vision in action.

In football, Gateway remains the only international school competing in Division 1 of the All-Island Schools’ Football League. Three talented players — Aidan Francis Perera, Nadal Aaron Senapala, and Anuk Shahil Dassanayake — have been chosen to represent Sri Lanka at the SAFF U19 Football Championship in India.

In squash, Gateway continues its proud tradition of producing national-level players. Five students have qualified to compete at the Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships in South Korea: Taveesha Goonasekera (Girls U13), Manuth Dassanayake and Dillon Perukanda (Boys U15), and Sithumli Mendis and Chanumi Thebuwanna (Girls U15).

On the track, Shanuka Costa flew the Sri Lankan flag at the Asian Youth Athletics Championship in Saudi Arabia. He finished fourth in the Medley Relay and reached the semi-finals in the 400m — a performance that speaks volumes about his potential and dedication.

These young athletes are not only ambassadors of Gateway but also of Sri Lanka. Their achievements stand as a testament to what is possible when talent meets opportunity. Gateway College congratulates them all and wishes them continued success as they take their next steps on the global stage.

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Australia to host Sri Lanka A in July

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Sri Lanka A will travel to Australia for a multi-format series against Australia A in July, marking the return of first-class cricket to Darwin for the first time since 2006.

This series includes three 50-over matches and two four-day games, all to be played at the Marrara Cricket Ground and Marrara Stadium in Darwin.

All five matches will be streamed live on Kayo Sports and cricket.com.au, offering fans the chance to follow the action closely.

Peter Roach, CA Head of Cricket Operations and Scheduling said:

“It’s fantastic to confirm a multi-format series which gives the next crop of emerging cricketers excellent development opportunities throughout the Australian winter.

“Darwin’s dry season weather between May and September offers both the Northern Territory and Australian Cricket an incredible winter opportunity which allows cricket to be played in Australia all-year round.

Hosting these matches, and especially a match at Marrara Stadium, gives significant status to the series ahead of the 2025-26 international season.

Schedule

July 4:

First 50-over Match (D/N)

July 6:

Second 50-over Match

July 9:

Third 50-over Match

July 13–16:

First Four-Day Match

July 20–23:

Second Four-Day Match

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