Sports

Sri Lanka hope home soil can tilt World Cup scales

Published

1 month ago

2026/02/1

Dasun Shanaka and Matheesha Pathirana pose with the World Cup trophy.

With another home World Cup less than ten days away, the drums are already rolling across the island and the mood is unmistakably festive. Sri Lanka have been down this road before. In 2011 and 2012, the country staged back-to-back global events that were box-office successes, finals appearances for the home side and the unveiling of three new stadiums with capacities north of 30,000, even if Hambantota later came to be labelled, rather unkindly, a white elephant.

Ticket frenzies during those tournaments prompted Sri Lanka Cricket to float an ambitious 60,000-seat stadium at Diyagama, a plan that was eventually bowled out amid protests from former players. Yet, stripped of sentiment, the logic remains hard to dispute. Demand, especially for marquee clashes like India versus Pakistan, continues to be off the charts.

The hospitality sector is already cashing in. A five-star Colombo hotel room that usually goes for USD 150 at this time of the year is now fetching upwards of USD 500, with some properties touching USD 800. Most are sold out. It underlines just how much appetite there is for cricket between two nuclear-armed neighbours who remain at daggers drawn off the field but irresistible on it.

There is also a larger strategic play for Sri Lanka. Given the geopolitics of the region; India unlikely to tour Pakistan or Bangladesh, and vice versa, the island increasingly shapes up as the neutral venue of choice. Dubai offers an alternative, but the Gulf’s extreme heat and eye-watering costs make Sri Lanka a more practical option. Recent moves to add floodlights at SSC and CCC are steps in the right direction and could pave the way for more Asian Cricket Council and ICC events coming Colombo’s way.

On the field, expectations are cautiously optimistic. Sri Lanka should fancy their chances of getting past the first hurdle. Drawn in Group B alongside Australia, Oman, Ireland and Zimbabwe, Dasun Shanaka’s side ought to cruise through the group stage. The real examination will come in the Super Eight phase, where the margins shrink.

Much will hinge on Pathum Nissanka, Sri Lanka’s most consistent run getter over the past 24 months. He has not been in full flow of late, but if he finds his rhythm, the hosts can be a handful. Kusal Mendis is also firing on all cylinders and this could be the tournament where he truly leaves his mark. After initially signalling that he was not in their plans, selectors have had a rethink and brought back Kusal Janith Perera, a move that adds experience to the top order.

The soft underbelly remains power-hitting. The middle order lacks a batter who can routinely muscle attacks at the death. Captain Dasun Shanaka can plug that gap on his day, but consistency and his struggles against spin remain question marks.

Bowling, however, is Sri Lanka’s trump card. If the batters can put something respectable on the board, the attack has the tools to defend it. Dushmantha Chameera brings pace and accuracy, Matheesha Pathirana is a nightmare to line up with his awkward, slingy action, while Maheesh Theekshana remains notoriously hard to read. And then there is Wanindu Hasaranga, a genuine match-winner whom opponents approach with extreme caution.

All told, Sri Lanka look a well-balanced outfit on home turf. If a few pieces fall into place, don’t be surprised if they end up upsetting a few established orders before this World Cup is done and dusted.

Rex Clementine at Pallekele

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Agha calls for ‘sportsman spirit’ after controversial dismissal

Published

40 mins 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

10 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

11 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.