Sports

Taking Sri Lankan players out of their comfort zones

Published

2 months ago

2026/04/12

Wanindu Hasaranga will miss this season’s IPL.

One of cricket’s most battle-hardened operators is Steve Waugh. He may not have possessed the silken elegance of his twin brother Mark Waugh, but when it came to rolling up his sleeves and digging in, few did it better. Nicknamed the ‘Iceman’, Waugh made a career out of staring adversity in the face and refusing to blink.

His back-to-the-wall double hundred in Jamaica didn’t just win a Test, it snapped the spine of West Indies’ dominance that had stretched over decades. That was vintage Waugh: when the chips were down, he didn’t just hold the fort, he rebuilt it brick by brick.

Never one to take a backward step, Waugh once broke his nose attempting a catch off Mahela Jayawardene at Asgiriya. Surgeons advised him to sit out the Colombo Test and let the wounds heal. But for Waugh, the thought of Australia conceding a series was a bridge too far. He took the field against medical advice, a call that summed up his appetite for the fight.

He was no less formidable as a leader. The way he handled a young, wayward Ricky Ponting, then prone to off-field scrapes, has passed into cricketing folklore. Waugh didn’t just build a team; he forged a culture. His book ‘Out of My Comfort Zone’ remains a manual on how elite sportsmen must push the envelope if they are to stay ahead of the curve.

It is perhaps a book that should find its way into a few Sri Lankan kit bags. Too many current players appear content to play within themselves, happy to nudge and nurdle rather than step out of the crease and take the game on. At the highest level, though, comfort zones are quicksand. If you stand still for too long you will sink.

Champion leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga now finds himself under the scanner, his recurring hamstring injury becoming a stubborn thorn in both his side and Sri Lanka’s ambitions. Earlier this year, the injury ruled him out of the World Cup, with an initial recovery timeline of six weeks, enough, on paper, to make the IPL.

But cricket, as ever, had a twist in the tale.

In the aftermath of the World Cup, Sri Lanka Cricket took stock. While the team did reasonably well to reach the second round, there was a lingering sense of a chance missed, especially at a home World Cup where a semi-final berth was there for the taking. The consensus in cricketing corridors was simple: with a full-strength bowling attack, Sri Lanka could have gone deeper.

Determined not to leave things to chance again, the board drew a line in the sand, no fitness, no NOC. Players were required to clear stringent fitness tests to secure No Objection Certificates for franchise leagues, including the IPL. Hasaranga, along with a few others, found the bar a stiff one to clear.

Unlike Nuwan Thushara, whose case has taken a legal turn, Hasaranga’s issue is less about agility and more about durability. On the field, he is as sharp as they come, electric in the deep, capable of pulling off screamers and hitting the stumps on the fly. But the body, it seems, has not kept pace with the skill.

Fresh off injury, pushing too hard carries the risk of another breakdown. As a result, Hasaranga has opted out of fitness tests, leaving him without an NOC and consequently, out of the IPL with Lucknow Super Giants. Head Coach Tom Moody has already indicated that the franchise is scouting for a replacement, a clear sign that the wheels of professional cricket wait for no one.

The immediate loss is financial, a tidy USD 220,000, roughly LKR 70 million. But in the grand scheme, that’s loose change compared to what’s at stake. Not long ago, Royal Challengers Bangalore splashed over USD 1 million on him and he repaid the faith by finishing as their leading wicket-taker in 2022.

Since then, however, his stock has dipped. Not for lack of skill, Hasaranga still has the ability to turn games on their head, but because franchises are increasingly wary of whether he can last the distance over a full season. In franchise cricket, availability is often the best ability and Hasaranga’s repeated breakdowns have raised a few eyebrows.

The message, then, is clear. Hasaranga needs to take a leaf out of Waugh’s book. Step out of the comfort zone. Tighten the screws on fitness. Watch the weight. Treat the body like the temple that houses his talent.

No one is asking him to morph into Virat Kohli, hitting the gym at dawn and steering clear of butter chicken avoiding it like a plague. But at the very least, the basics must be ticked off. At this level, you don’t just play the game, you prepare for it, day in, day out.

There’s also a bigger storm brewing. Missing the IPL without an NOC could open the door to a potential two-year ban, a prospect that would be a bitter pill to swallow for the player.

For Hasaranga, this must be a line-in-the-sand moment. Because in international cricket, as Waugh showed time and again, you either get out of your comfort zone or the game moves on without you.

by Rex Clementine

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Sports

Sri Lanka claim ODI series 1-0 after another washout in Kingston

Published

6 hours ago

2026/06/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

Kusal Mendis poses with the series trophy

For the second game running in Kingston, persistent rain forced an ODI between West Indies and Sri Lanka had to be abandoned without a ball being bowled. This one – the third and final ODI in this series at Sabina Park – meant Sri Lanka secured the trophy with a 1-0 margin, courtesy the 41-run victory they enjoyed in the series opener.

The umpires had several inspections, but after discussing with curators they decided that getting play started by the cut off of 8.02pm for a 20-over-shootout was almost impossible.

While the mood around both camps might be damp, both literally and metaphorically following two straight washouts, the outcome is still a landmark one for the visiting Lions. It is their first ODI-series victory in the Caribbean in 23 years – the last coming in 2003. A positive start for their newly appointed head coach Gary Kirsten and their new ODI captain Kusal Mendis, although they would’ve liked to have seen more in-game action from the players.

“Very happy to win the series, we did really well in that one game – in all three departments,” Mendis said. “There are not a lot of matches ahead of next year’s World Cup, happy with my first series victory as captain. Got support of the staff too.” He also praised the bowling unit.

For West Indies, the weather and the subsequent series result is undoubtedly a frustrating blow. Denied a chance to avenge their opening game defeat, it’s not only a first series loss at home in three years but, more critically, it’s a result that hinders their pursuit of vital ICC ranking points required for automatic, direct qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

West Indies, for now, remain in tenth place in the ODI rankings, just outside of the top eight qualifying spots. They have ODI series campaigns against New Zealand (World No. 2) and India (No. 1) coming up next.

“You can’t control mother nature,” Shai Hope said. “Credit just be given to the Sri Lankan team for the way they played in the first game. [T20I series next] We need to look ahead, understand conditions. Adaptability will be key in Jamaica. We’ve got some experience, hope to bounce back there.”

Both sides will rapidly shift focus to the shortest format as a three-match T20I series is scheduled to kick off on Thursday, June 11, with subsequent matches on June 13 and June 14.

However, the teams will not be changing hotels just yet; all three T20Is are slated to take place at the exact same venue in Kingston. With rain expected to be a presence across Jamaica over the coming week, groundstaff will have their work cut out for them to ensure the upcoming matches escape a similar watery fate. Those matches will all start at 7.30pm local time.

[Cricinfo]

Sports

Hirun, Menula steer Isipatana to five-wicket win over St. Benedict’s

Published

6 hours ago

2026/06/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

Isipatana College Colombo produced a disciplined all-round performance to register a comfortable five-wicket victory over St. Benedict’s College Kotahena in their Under-17 Division I cricket encounter at BRC ground on Tuesday.

‎Chasing a modest target of 165, Isipatana suffered an early setback when Hasindu Kethmina fell with only three runs on the board. However, Savain Wijewardana and Hirun Wattegedara steadied the innings with a valuable second-wicket stand.

‎Savain made 30 off 48 balls before being dismissed, while Hirun anchored the chase with a composed 66 off 104 deliveries that included three fours and two sixes. His knock laid the foundation for the successful run chase.

‎Menula Dambakumbur

අ played an aggressive innings of 47 from just 45 balls, striking three boundaries and a six. His partnership with Hirun carried Isipatana close to victory before both batters departed late in the innings.

‎Kumar Abishek remained unbeaten on 3 as Isipatana reached 165 for 5 in 36.4 overs, sealing victory with many overs to spare.

‎For St. Benedict’s, Thisum Perera was the most successful bowler with figures of 2 for 31 from 10 overs, while Paranthaman Rohinth, Sethun Perera and Theumika Perera claimed a wicket each.

‎Earlier, St. Benedict’s were bowled out for 164 in 47.1 overs despite a fighting half-century from Paranthaman Rohinth. Rohinth top-scored with 54 runs off 75 deliveries, striking five fours and a six, while Sethun Perera contributed 19 and Daham Premasiri added 19 lower down the order.

‎St. Benedict’s struggled to build substantial partnerships as wickets fell at regular intervals. Rohinth’s dismissal at 101 for 4 in the 29th over triggered a middle-order collapse, leaving the innings heavily dependent on contributions from the lower order.

‎Isipatana’s bowlers shared the workload effectively. Nithila Athukorala and Kumar Abishek claimed two wickets apiece, conceding just 21 and 19 runs respectively. Abiru Walpola also picked up two wickets, while Hirun Wattegedara, Hiruna Vidushan and Anuhas Pandithage chipped in with one wicket each.

Scores:

‎St. Benedict’s 164 all out in 47.1 overs

(Paranthaman Rohinth 54, Sethun Perera 19, Daham Premasiri 19; Nithila Athukorala 2/21, Kumar Abishek 2/19, Abiru Walpola 2/33).

‎Isipatana 165 for 5 in 36.4 overs (Hirun Wattegedara 66, Menula Dambakumbura 47, Savain Wijewardana 30; Thisum Perera 2/31).

‎In the other matches played on Tuesday, Kingswood beat St. Thomas’ Matale y seven wickets while St. Sebastian’s Katuneriya beat Maris Stella, Thimbirigaskatuwa by two wickets.

[RF]

Sports

44th Executive Committee to steer MCA in 2026/27

Published

6 hours ago

2026/06/10

Sahan Weerasooriya

The 44th Executive Committee of the Mercantile Cricket Association

Seated from left:

Lakmal de Silva [Exco Member] .Rohan Somawansa [Vice President], Thushan Amarasuriya [Senior Vice President] Sirosha Gunatilake [President ], Achintha Hewanayake [General Secretary], Tarinda Kaluperuma [Vice President] , Hasitha Dassanayake [Treasurer ]

Standing from left:

Samantha de Mel [Exco Member], Sajith Atapattu [Assistant Treasurer ], Ajith Siyambalapitiya [Assistant Secretary], Pramodth Fernando [Exco Member], Anil Hapugoda [Exco Member], Ashan Peris [Exco Member], Feroze Ahamed [Exco Member]

Founded in 1911 as the ‘Mercantile Cricket Competition’, the Mercantile Cricket Association (MCA) has evolved under the stewardship of distinguished cricketing personalities — from its first President, to Sirosha Gunatilake its 44th President and the 30th Sri Lankan to hold the post.

Over the years, the MCA has made significant investments in cricketing infrastructure to further the development of the sport across the country and continues to play a vital role in nurturing cricketing talent within the mercantile sector and beyond.

Today, the MCA is recognized as one of the foremost cricket-promoting associations in Sri Lanka and has served as a model for many of the tournament structures adopted by Sri Lanka Cricket.

The Association annually conducts seven major tournaments and more than 500 matches, including the Super Premier League to Rising Leagues, the Mercantile Six-a-Side Tournament, the Over-40 Sixes, T10 and T20 competitions, the MCA Inter Academy Invitational Tournament, and the MCA Ladies Sixes (Softball) Tournament, which was introduced to promote women’s cricket and encourage greater participation of ladies in hard-ball cricket.

The 44th Executive Committee that will steer Sri Lanka’s premier corporate cricket association through 2026 / 2027:

President

– Sirosha Gunatilake Managing Director, (Trendex Lanka (Pvt) Ltd)

Senior Vice President –

Thushan Amarasuriya Managing Director/ Executive Director, (Singer Sri Lanka PLC)

Vice Presidents-

Tarindra Kaluperuma Executive Director , (Stafford Motors Co. Ltd)

Rohan Somawansa Head of Marketing and Corporate Communication / Director (DSI Samson Group (Pvt). Ltd)

General Secretary

Achintha Hewanayake Director/CEO/President , (CL Synergy Limited)

Treasurer

Hasitha Dassanayake Chief Sales & Digital Business Officer, (Citizen Development Business Finance PLC)