Sports
New owners for Jaffna franchise in LPL
by Rex Clementine
The winners of the inaugural Lanka Premier League – Jaffna Stallions have been shown the door after ‘breach of contract’ according to Sri Lanka Cricket and the ownership of the franchise has changed hands to UK based businessman Allirajah Subaskaran.
Subaskaran, who owns one of Britain’s leading mobile phone companies – Lyca is of Sri Lankan origin. With his take over, Jaffna will have a single owner and will be known as Jaffna Kings.
The previous owners of the franchise had about ten directors; all Sri Lankans living across the world.
Jaffna Stallions was the best organized franchise in the tournament and there was little surprise as they stormed to victory amidst much fanfare last year. They were brilliantly led by Thisara Perera and fans were able to see a whole lot of new stars during the month long competition.
Jaffna Stallions in a tweet said that they tried ‘everything to make it work’ and that they were going to put out a statement regarding the situation. The statement, however, did not come out even when this edition went to print.
The Island learns that contracts of several other franchises too have been terminated for not honouring their contracts. The reason for termination seems failure to make payments. Jaffna Stallions, however, had not defaulted payments and there were other issues pertaining to them being overlooked, it is learned.
The termination had been done by Dubai based IPG group and not Sri Lanka Cricket. SLC has sold the rights of the competition to IPG.
Sources also said that the original Jaffna team that had some very good signings from overseas will not be dismantled and the new owners will be allowed to continue with the same team. Thisara Perera is expected to be retained as captain.
SLC was confident that the tournament will continue as planned despite the setback of losing original franchise owners.
The second edition of the LPL will get underway in December with the first leg of the tournament being played in Colombo in a bio-secure bubble and the second leg moving to Hambantota. The southern city hosted the entire tournament last year.
The authorities are looking at the possibility of accommodating small number of fans for the games, The Island learns.
Malinga, who had made his domestic debut in 2022, has picked up 20 wickets in 12 List A games at an average of 25.15. He had first come on the radar in 2019 after winning a nationwide fast-bowling contest, where he clocked a winning speed of 141kph.
Malinga continues to rise in 2024, adding more consistency and control to his fairly searing pace. It earned him an LPL contract with Jaffna Kings, and while he played just a solitary game in the season, he was also signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for IPL 2025. Malinga has also been a regular feature in the Sri Lanka A side across formats.
Malinga’s inclusion coincides with the waning star of Madushanka, who has struggled since returning from injury earlier in the year. He had finished the 2023 ODI World Cup as the third highest wicket taker, but has managed just 14 wickets in 11 ODIs in 2024.
The batting unit is relatively settled, with captain Charith Asalanka leading a strong contingent that also includes Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis. While Nissanka has nailed down one opening spot, the other will go to one of Avishka Fernando or Nishan Madushka.
Meanwhile, Samarawickrama’s exclusion comes on the back of a lean stretch of form across formats, while his replacement Nuwanidu offers a more aggressive option. Janith Liyanage, who is also a handy seam-bowling option, is currently the first-choice option for that lower middle-order berth, while Chamindu Wickramasinghe also offers another all-round seam-bowling option.
Asitha Fernando heads the pace unit, which also includes Kumara, Malinga and Mohamed Shiraz. Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Jeffrey Vandersay make up the spin-bowling department.
Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand begins with the three-match T20I series from December 28. The tour then moves on to the ODIs, with the first one to be held on January 5 in Wellington. That will be followed by matches in Hamilton and Auckland on January 8 and 11, respectively.
Sri Lanka squad for NZ ODIs
Charith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Asitha Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz, Lahiru Kumara, Eshan Malinga
(Cricinfo)
Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga is back in the ODI squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, where the teams play three ODIs and three T20Is. The ace spinner missed Sri Lanka’s last ODI assignment – the home series against the same opposition in November – due to a hamstring injury. Dunith Wellalage, who lost his T20I spot for the tour, held onto his place in the 50-over squad.
Sri Lanka made four changes to the side that played last month, with the quartet of Dushan Hemantha, Kusal Perera, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Dishan Madushanka not getting picked. Perera, in fact, had made a comeback to the ODI squad for the first time since the 2023 World Cup in the previous series against New Zealand but did not get a game. Hemantha meanwhile, was Hasaranga’s replacement in the last ODI series squad.
Besides Hasaranga, Sri Lanka have also brought in batter Nuwanidu Fernando, who made his debut against India in 2023 and has featured in five ODIs. Fast bowler Lahiru Kumara makes a return after last playing the format in March in Bangladesh this year. Sri Lanka have also added the uncapped medium-pacer Eshan Malinga for the 50-over games.
The tour will kick-off with T20Is on December 28. The three ODIs will be played on January 5, 8 and 11.
Sri Lanka ODI squad: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamidu Wickramasinghe, Asitha Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz, Lahiru Kumara, Eshan Malinga.
Under 19 Cricket
By Reemus Fernando
Spinners Vathila Udara and Malith Rathnayake picked up five wickets each in the second innings as Trinity beat Maliyadewa by an innings and 13 runs in the Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket encounter at Asgiriya on Monday.
Forced to follow on after being dismissed for 73 runs, the visitors batted for 43 overs but could not make the home team bat for a second time.
Left-arm spinner Rathnayake bagged eight wickets as the skipper led from the front for Trinity to record their first outright victory of the season.
Trinity have remained unbeaten this season after four tournament matches.
Results
Trinity register first outright victory
Scores
Trinity
215 all out in 67.1 overs (Dimantha Mahavithana 45, Pulisha Thilakarathne 53, Aadham Hilmy 30, Sethmika Senevirathne 24; Dimath Rivisahan 3/69, Thaveesha Balasooriya 4/60)
Maliyadeva
53 for 6 overnight 73 all out in 27.3 overs (Pehesara Bandara 30, Sandeepa Chamod 20; Thisal Yapa 5/38, Malith Rathnayake 3/17) and 129 all out in 43.1 overs (Rajitha Samarasinghe 20, Pehesara Bandara 39, Chandupa Induwara 30; Dimath Rivisahan 20; Malith Rathnayake 5/38, Vathila Udara 5/39)
Lumbini
132 for nine against St. Anthony’s at Katugastota
Scores
Lumbini
132 for 9 in 64.2 overs (Adeesha Maxwell 29; Charuka Ekanayake 3/40, Ryan Gregory 3/12, Kevan Ramika 3/32)
Late order contributions help Isipatana reach 270 at Anuradhapura
Scores
Isipatana
270 all out in 84.4 overs (Ranmith Senarath 21, Lesandu Kalpage 58, Chanul Dinoth 47, Menula Sadev 46, Dasith Senal 47; Nimesha Silva 5/79, Amith Kumara 2/69, Yoshitha Isuranga 2/29)
St. Sylvester’s
30 for 2 in 12 overs
Eshan Malinga earns maiden call-up for New Zealand ODIs; Lahiru Kumara recalled
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