Sports
Memories of Zimbabwe 2004
Cricket in Harare between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka invariably stirs memories of that fateful tour 21 years ago, a series that put Sri Lanka on the world map for more reasons than one. It was in Zimbabwe in 2004 that Muttiah Muralitharan, the smiling assassin, toppled Courtney Walsh’s record to become Test cricket’s highest wicket-taker. From then on, Murali and Shane Warne were locked in a neck-and-neck tussle, trading blows like prizefighters until Warne’s retirement left Murali to reign supreme.
That series, though, was more than just leather on willow. ‘Zimbabwe 2004’ was littered with drama both on and off the field. For us reporters, it was a crash course not only in cricket but in the dark underbelly of a nation.
At the helm stood Robert Mugabe — once a freedom fighter, but by then a despot whose policies were driving his nation into isolation. Unlike Nelson Mandela, who united South Africa and bowed out gracefully, Mugabe clung to power with the stickiness of a bat refusing to leave the crease. In trying to curry favour with the black majority, he alienated the white minority and eventually his innings ended in chaos.
Cricket, too, was unravelling. Once a competitive outfit, Zimbabwe imploded in a pay dispute. Senior white players were on the warpath, paving the way for as many as five Test debutants. Against such weakened opposition, Sri Lanka marched through the tour like a side batting on a featherbed — unbeaten, with seven wins from eight games, the solitary warm-up washed away by rain.
The defining moment came when Mluleki Nkala edged one to bat-pad, Mahela Jayawardene snapping up a sharp diving catch. That was Murali’s 520th scalp, Walsh’s long-standing record had tumbled.
There were other highlights. A baby-faced Farveez Maharoof, then Sri Lanka’s Under-19 captain, was blooded in Tests. In one ODI, Zimbabwe were bundled out for a paltry 35, a scorecard that looked more like a phone number, with the match done and dusted inside 27 overs.
But while cricket thrived for Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe outside the boundary ropes was crumbling. Inflation was obscene, one US dollar fetched 5,200 Zimbabwe dollars, and you literally needed a suitcase to encash a mere hundred USD. Sri Lankan doctors clung on in Bulawayo, though most were plotting their escape routes. Ordinary Zimbabweans bore the brunt; only the military seemed immune, wielding unchecked power. And yet, crime was low, unlike Durban or Johannesburg, you could walk the streets of Harare and Bulawayo without feeling you were playing a dangerous shot.
Mugabe’s fortified residence loomed right beside Harare Sports Club. Journalists heading to the ground trudged past checkpoints, sometimes interrupted by presidential helicopters buzzing overhead. The cricket board itself was firmly in Mugabe’s pocket. Its cigar-puffing chief, Peter Chingoka, once publicly threatened AFP’s John Kelly during a press briefing, forcing him to retract comments. The message was clear — toe the line, or perish.
Media accreditation was another minefield. A visiting journalist had to register with the Ministry, cough up USD 250, and endure a bureaucratic send-off to freedom of the press. Britain’s Daily Telegraph dispatched Mihir Bose to cover Murali’s impending milestone, but when Bose strayed into politics, he was promptly deported.
And yet, Zimbabwe was a land of breathtaking beauty. Victoria Falls roared in majestic splendour, a reminder of what the country could offer if freed from the shackles of poor governance.
Years later, Mugabe was finally bundled out in a coup. The nation, much like a side rebuilding after a collapse, is still picking itself up from the wreckage. Zimbabwe’s people deserve better — not a dictator. Their cricket, too, deserves better — not an authoritarian like Chingoka.
by Rex Clementine ✍️
The India and Zimbabwe women’s teams are all set to play an international fixture against each other for the first time when Zimbabwe tour India for white-ball fixtures this October.
The tour comprises three T20Is and three ODIs and will be Zimbabwe’s first visit to India; India are yet to tour Zimbabwe for bilateral fixtures.
The three T20Is will be played in Raipur on October 16, 18 and 20, and the ODIs are on October 23, 25 and 28 in Baroda.
The fixtures were announced by the BCCI on Wednesday, along with two home series for the India A women’s side against Australia A in September and England A in December. Both those series comprise three T20s, three List A games and one multi-day fixture.
The India Under-19 women’s team will also host Sri Lanka U-19 in June and July for three T20s and three 50-over games, and England U-19 in November and December for five T20 fixtures.
The Australia A men’s side will tour India for two multi-day fixtures and three one-dayers in September and October, while the Australia U-19 side will visit India for two multi-day fixtures and three one-dayers also in September and October.
[Cricinfo]
Sports
Fast bowlers to get more opportunities as new format introduced for Under-15 Division I tourney
The Inter-Schools Under-15 Division I cricket tournament will be conducted under a revamped format this year, with organisers shifting the focus back to limited-overs cricket while introducing new rules aimed at promoting fast bowling.
The tournament, organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA), will see only the top-tier Division I competition played in a 50-over format. Meanwhile, Division II and Division III matches will continue under the one-day, four-innings structure.
SLSCA Secretary Saman Hettiarachchi said the changes were made following consultations with experts from Sri Lanka Cricket, with a clear objective of providing greater opportunities for pace bowlers.
”We opted for the limited-overs format for Division I in consultation with Sri Lanka Cricket. The lower divisions will copete in the innings format as we have observed matches ending early without utilizing the full quota of overs,” Hettiarachchi told ‘The Island’.
A key feature of the revised rules is the compulsory allocation of overs for fast bowlers. In a full 50-over innings, a minimum of 20 overs must be bowled by pacemen. Additionally, during the first 10 overs, at least eight overs must be delivered by fast bowlers. If an innings is reduced to 30 overs or fewer, at least six of the first eight overs must be bowled by pace.
”It was made mandatory to give more opportunities to pacemen,” Hettiarachchi explained.
Meanwhile, the official draw for the Division I tournament has been released, featuring 70 teams divided into 16 groups from Group A to Group P for the preliminary round. Each team is guaranteed multiple matches during the opening stage.
Defending champions St. Joseph’s College headline Group A, where they will meet Nalanda College, Dharmapala College, St. John’s College, Lumbini College and De La Salle College.
With traditional cricketing powerhouses spread across the groups, it will be interesting to see how the first round pans out in the new-look tournament.
Under 15 Division I Tournament First Round Groups
GROUP A
St. Joseph’s College, Colombo
Nalanda College, Colombo
Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya
St. John’s College, Nugegoda
Lumbini College, Colombo
De La Salle College, Colombo
GROUP B
D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo
S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia
Presidents’ College, Kotte
Wesley College, Colombo
Carey College, Colombo
Sri Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya
GROUP C
St. Anthony’s College, Wattala
St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa
Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Kottawa
St. Peter’s College, Colombo
C.W.W. Kannangara MV, Colombo
Ashoka College, Colombo
GROUP D
St. Benedict’s College, Colombo
Royal College, Colombo
Gurukula College, Kelaniya
Lyceum International School, Wattala
Bandaranayake MMV, Gampaha
St. John’s College, Panadura
GROUP E
De Mazenod College, Kandana
Isipathana College, Colombo
Christ King College, Ja-Ela
Thurstan College, Colombo
Ananda Shastralaya NS, Kotte
St. Joseph Vaz College, Vennappuwa
GROUP F
Mahanama College, Colombo
Piliyandala MMV, Piliyandala
Ananda College, Colombo
Sri Jayawardenapura NS, Kotte
Presidents College, Maharagama
St. Thomas’ College, Kotte
GROUP G
Wadduwa MMV, Wadduwa
Sri Sumangala College, Panadura
Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa
Moratu Vidyalaya, Moratuwa
Revatha College, Balapitiya
Royal College, Panadura
GROUP H
Dharmaraja College, Kandy
St. Mary’s College, Kegalle
Kegalu Vidyalaya, Kegalle
Kingswood College, Kandy
Vidyartha College, Kandy
Ibbagamuwa MMV, Ibbagamuwa
GROUP J
Maris Stella College, Negombo
Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala
Harischandra College, Negombo
Maliyadeva Adarsha MV, Kurunegala
Galahitiyawa MMV, Ganemulla
Sandalankawa MMV, Sandalankawa
GROUP K
St. Anthony’s College, Kandy
St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy
Trinity College, Kandy
Royal College, Polonnaruwa
St. Thomas’ College, Matale
Jaffna Hindu College, Jaffna
GROUP L
Sri Pangnananda MMV, Raddoluwa
St. Anne’s College, Kurunegala
St. Mary’s College, Chilaw
Sri Sumangala NS, Wariyapola
St. Peter’s College, Negombo
St. Xavier’s College, Marawila
GROUP M
Devapathiraja College, Rathgama
St. Aloysius College, Galle
Holy Cross College, Kalutara
Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda
Kalutara Vidyalaya, Kalutara
Vidyaloka College, Galle
GROUP N
Mahinda College, Galle
Tissa MV, Kalutara
Rahula College, Matara
Debarawewa NS, Debarawewa
St. Thomas’ College, Matara
Meepawala Amarasuriya MV
GROUP P
St. Servatius’ College, Matara
Richmond College, Galle
Sri Devananda College, Ambalangoda
Karandeniya MMV, Karandeniya
P. De S. Kularathna MV, Ambalangoda
President’s College, Embilipitiya.
by Reemus Fernando
With the success the seven MCA men’s cricket tournaments have achieved, the Executive Committee of Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) have decided to give Women’s Cricket in Sri Lanka a boost by introducing a hard ball Women’s Cricket Tournament for the corporate sector.
With the international recognition women’s cricket has gained at present, it is no secret that there still are many talented lasses aspiring to reach the zenith of the game.
Even with the measures Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) the game’s governing body through the Schools Cricket Association (SLSCA) have taken to promote girls cricket in schools, a considerable number of talented players, specially in the provinces do not have an opportunity to be recognized.
It is the MCA’s belief that with the introduction of a MCA Women’s Cricket Tournament, the corporate sector will be encouraged to field teams, and in doing so will give a hand to talented lasses and school leavers by providing them with employment as well as the opportunity to realise their aspirations in the Women’s Cricket arena.
At present in addition to the seven major Men’s tournaments the MCA organise the
Mercantile Six-a-Side tournament, the Over-40 Sixes competition, the 20×20 league, and the esteemed MCA Inter Academy Invitational tournament,
As an initial step, the MCA will be conducting a Women’s six and side soft ball cricket tournament for the corporate sector teams on Saturday 23rd May 2026 at the Mercantile Cricket Association grounds.
For further information please contact Chamara on 0759592488 or Prasad 0759809777.
Joint programme between President’s Fund and Janashakthi Foundation to expand healthcare facilities for children
Maldivian President concludes state visit to Sri Lanka
India to host Zimbabwe for maiden women’s bilateral series
Showers above 75 mm are likely at some places in the Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva, Southern and North-central provinces
Govt. draws flak over Rs. 500 mn excess Aswesuma payments
NDB fraud: Ravi asks govt. to appoint independent forensic auditor
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News2 days agoCJ urged to inquire into AKD’s remarks on May 25 court verdict
-
News6 days ago“Three-in-one blood pressure pill can significantly reduce risk of recurrent strokes”
-
News3 days agoUSD 3.7 bn H’tota refinery: China won’t launch project without bigger local market share
-
News6 days agoAlarm raised over plan to share Lanka’s biometric data with blacklisted Indian firm
-
News4 days agoEaster Sunday Case: Ex-SIS Chief concealed intel, former Defence Secy tells court
-
News5 days agoTen corruption cases set for court in May, verdict ordered in one case – President
-
News6 days agoUSD 2.5 mn fraud probe: Interdicted MoF official found dead at home
-
Editorial3 days agoDeliver or perish