Sports

Sri Lanka aim to restore pride as Australia keep Champions Trophy in sight

Published

1 year ago

2025/02/12

Australian captain Steve Smith and his Sri Lankan counterpart Charith Asalanka pose for photographs lead up to the two match ODI series at RPS that gets underway today.

by Rex Clementine

Sri Lanka might be out of the Champions Trophy race, but they are determined to make the most of the two match ODI series against Australia, starting today (Wednesday). Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka emphasized the importance of ensuring Sri Lanka never missed out on another ICC event. His side aren’t part of the ICC Champions Trophy that gets underway in Pakistan in a week’s time.

“It’s disappointing, no doubt about it. But there’s nothing we can do about it now. What’s important is that we make sure this never happens again,” Asalanka admitted.

“Last year, we had some big moments in ODI cricket – we beat India for the first time in 27 years and won several bilateral series. We need to build on that momentum and ensure we don’t find ourselves in this position again,” he added.

Sri Lanka’s failure to qualify for the Champions Trophy marks the first time in half a century that they have missed out on an ICC event. Their ninth-place finish at the last World Cup in India meant they were left on the sidelines while the top eight teams booked their tickets to Pakistan.

For Australia, this series is more than just a warm-up; it’s a chance to fine-tune their game ahead of the Champions Trophy. The defending World Champions are placed in a tough group alongside England, South Africa, and Afghanistan, with a few preliminary games also set to be played in Dubai.

“I’d be lying if I said the Champions Trophy wasn’t at the forefront of our minds. It’s a massive ICC tournament for us,” Australian skipper Steve Smith told reporters in Colombo.

“While our focus is on finishing this series well, we’re also looking at the bigger picture. These two games will help us get our plans in place for the tournament,” Smith added.

Both ODIs will be played as day games, a rare sight in modern cricket, as the floodlights at R. Premadasa Stadium are yet to be installed following renovations. With Sri Lanka set to co-host next year’s T20 World Cup alongside India, most of the upgrade work has been completed, but the lights remain a work in progress.

“Day games are quite different, actually. To be honest, I can’t remember the last time I played one. But whatever the conditions, it’s going to be warm out there, and we’re looking forward to the challenge,” Smith noted.

The Aussies arrived in Colombo full of confidence, fresh from a 2-0 Test series whitewash in Galle, where they completely outplayed the hosts. They will be eager to keep their winning streak intact before shifting their focus to the global stage.

“Before coming to Sri Lanka, we had a training camp in Dubai, where we prepared on challenging wickets. The batters found methods to succeed in these conditions, the spinners worked on varying their pace, and the seamers fine-tuned their reverse swing. We hope to bring all that into this series and finish well,” Smith explained.

With Sri Lanka aiming to restore pride and Australia using this as a dress rehearsal for their Champions Trophy campaign, the two-match series promises to be more than just a routine bilateral contest. The first ODI will be played on Wednesday, followed by the second on Friday.

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Agha calls for ‘sportsman spirit’ after controversial dismissal

Published

5 hours ago

2026/03/14

Priyan

Salman Agha reacted furiously after his controversial dismissal [BBC]

Salman Ali Agha said that he would have done things ‘differently”, after Mehidy Hasan Miraz ran him out in controversial circumstances in the second ODI in Dhaka.

Agha, who made 64 from 62 balls, had been backing up at the non-striker’s end when Mohammad Rizwan drove the ball back towards him. He was still out of his ground as Mehidy swooped round behind him in an attempt to gather, and Agha had appeared ready to pass the ball back to the bowler before Mehidy reached down to grab it first and throw down the stumps.

Agha reacted furiously to the dismissal, throwing his gloves and helmet down in disgust at the decision. However, he later came to the post-match press conference, ahead of captain Shaheen Shah Afridi and player of the match Maaz Sadaqat, to clear the air.

“I think sportsman spirit has to be there,” Agha said. “What he [Mehidy] has done is in the law. I think if he thinks it’s right, it’s right, but if you ask me my perspective, I would have done differently. I would have gone for sportsman spirit. We haven’t done this [type of thing] previously, we would never do that in the future as well.”

Agha explained that he had been trying to pick up the ball to give to Miraz, thinking it was likely to have been called dead. “Actually, the ball hit on my pad and then my bat,” he said. “So I thought he can’t get me run-out now, because the ball already hit on my pad and my bat.

“I was just trying to give him the ball back. I was not looking for the run or anything like that, but he already decided [to make the run-out].”

Agha however regretted his angry reaction. “It was just heat-of-the-moment kind of stuff,” he said. “If you ask me what would I have done, I would have done things differently. But it was everything, whatever happened after that, it was in the moment.”

He was also involved in a robust exchange with Bangladesh wicketkeeper Litton Das, though he didn’t divulge many of the details.

“I can’t remember what I was saying and I can’t remember what he was saying,” he said. “I’m sure I wasn’t saying nice things, and I’m sure he wasn’t saying nice stuff as well. But it was just heat of the moment, so we are fine.

Asked if he had patched things up with Mehidy, Agha said: “I haven’t yet, but don’t worry, I’ll find him.”

Pakistan won the match by 128 runs via the DLS method.

[Cricinfo]

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Bahrain & Saudi Arabia Grands Prix to be cancelled

Published

14 hours ago

2026/03/14

Priyan

The grands prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were scheduled for next month (BBC)

The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix that were scheduled for next month are set to be cancelled as a result of the war in the Middle East.

A formal decision to call off the races has not yet been made but is expected before the end of the weekend.

Freight would need to start being shipped to the Middle East in the coming days. With no sign of the conflict between the US/Israel and Iran coming to a conclusion, holding the races would put personnel at too great a risk.

Neither event will be replaced, with the season being cut to 22 grands prix and F1 taking a commercial hit of more than £100m, given Bahrain and Saudi Arabia pay two of the highest hosting fees.

The race in Bahrain was scheduled to be on 12 April with Jeddah the following weekend.

Consideration was given to holding events at Portimao in Portugal, Imola in Italy or Istanbul Park in Turkey.

But it was accepted that the time to organise a race at any of those locations was too short, and there was little chance of securing a hosting fee.

The decision will mean there is a five-week break between the Japanese Grand Prix on 29 March and Miami on 3 May.

(BBC)

Sports

Rehan, Ramiru guide Royal on day two

Published

15 hours ago

2026/03/14

Thilina Walpola

Royal College made steady progress in reply to their arch rivals’ first innings total as skipper Rehan Peiris and Ramiru Perera guided them to 175 for four wickets at stumps on day two of the 147th Battle of the Blues at the SSC ground on Friday.

‎Royal needed only 51 overs to reach their end-of-day total after S. Thomas’ College had earlier adopted a cautious approach before being bowled out for 302 runs.

‎Royal suffered an early setback when open batsman Hirun Liyanarachchi was dismissed for naught in the very first over, caught behind by Aaron Kodituwakku off the bowling of Gimhan Mendis.

‎Skipper Rehan Peiris then steadied the innings, repairing the early damage with two useful partnerships. He first added 41 runs for the second wicket with Udantha Gangewatta and followed it up with a 34-run stand for the third wicket alongside Sri Lanka Under-19 skipper Vimath Dinsara.

‎Dinsara struggled to find fluency during his stay at the crease, managing 11 runs off 30 balls before being trapped leg-before by Gimhan Mendis, who finished the day with two wickets.

‎Rehan continued to anchor the innings and produced the most productive stand of the Royal innings when he combined with Ramiru Perera for a vital 78-run partnership for the fourth wicket. The Royal skipper’s determined knock finally ended on 63 when he was dismissed by Ludeesha Matarage.

‎From there, Ramiru Perera and Yasindu Dissanayake ensured there were no further setbacks, batting cautiously until bad light forced the umpires to call off play.

‎Perera remained unbeaten on 70, an attractive innings that included ten boundaries, while Dissanayake provided solid support at the other end as Royal closed the day strongly.

‎Earlier in the day, resuming from their overnight score, the Thomians continued with their ultra-cautious approach, scoring at just over two runs per over. Reshon Solomon top-scored with 66 runs, while Ludeesha Matarage and Raphael Hettige chipped in with useful contributions in the twenties.

‎S. Thomas’ were eventually bowled out for 302 just before the lunch interval on the second day, having consumed 124 overs during their four-session first innings.

‎Gagan Gamage was the pick of the Royal bowlers with impressive figures of four wickets for 49 runs. He received good support from Sehandu Sooriyaarachchi, who claimed three wickets for 64 runs, while Himaru Deshan picked up two wickets for 43. Ramiru Perera also chipped in with a wicket to complete the Thomian innings.