Sports

The banker who steadied Sri Lanka’s cricketing ship

Published

2 weeks ago

2025/07/6

Rienzie Wijetilleke

When defending champions Sri Lanka crashed out in the group stages of the 1999 Cricket World Cup, fans were left shell-shocked. From heroes in 1996 to also-rans three years later, the dramatic decline left a bitter taste in many a mouth. Off the field, the situation was equally grim, with the cricket board mired in allegations of financial mismanagement. The sport that had united a nation had become a lightning rod for controversy.

Faced with this maelstrom, President Chandrika Kumaratunga was forced to act. But instead of turning to a former cricketer, she made an unconventional choice.

In came a banker, not a batsman. Rienzie Wijetilleke, a man of unimpeachable integrity and then Chairman of Hatton National Bank, was tasked with cleaning the Augean stables. The nation’s first-ever Cricket Interim Committee was born.

Wijetilleke, who passed away on Friday after a brief illness, was no cricketing tactician. But he knew good governance. His only request to the President was a “free hand” to act, and act he did.

Understanding the limitations of his cricketing knowledge, he surrounded himself with a team of cricketing professionals. In came former captain Michael Tissera, sharp thinker of the game Sidath Wettimuny as Chairman of Selectors and S. Skandakumar, head of the country’s oldest mercantile firm, George Steuart.

The move ruffled the feathers of many. In fact, it stirred a hornet’s nest. CBK’s own party (SLFP) financier had stakes in the cricket boardroom. Then, the national captain at that time was the son of one of her most trusted cabinet ministers. But the iron lady she was CBK held firm, taking the political bouncers on the chest.

Under Rienzie’s stewardship, bold calls were the order of the day. S. Skandakumar was sent to Lancashire to bring Dav Whatmore back as Head Coach. The captaincy baton was passed to a relatively inexperienced Sanath Jayasuriya, leapfrogging past the old guard — Aravinda de Silva, Hashan Tillakaratne and Roshan Mahanama. In a country where sentiment often trumps strategy, the move didn’t go down kindly with many cricket fans.

Fans were furious. Aravinda, arguably Sri Lanka’s finest stroke-maker, was still going strong. Mahanama was only 29. Critics queued up. The loudest among them was Tony Greig, the former England captain and popular commentator, who tore into the decision on-air.

But Rienzie didn’t flinch. He backed his team and the results followed.

Six weeks later World Champions Australia toured the country for a three-Test series and a tri-nation one-day tournament that also featured India. Sri Lanka, under Jayasuriya’s bold leadership, pulled off the unthinkable — a maiden Test victory over Australia. The one-day side brimmed with energy and athleticism, and their fielding reached new heights. Young blood had been injected into the veins of the national team. Chamara Silva, Mahela Jayawardene and Russell Arnold were soon joined by an unknown player from Kandy — Kumar Sangakkara is his name.

Sri Lanka clinched the tri-series final, beating the Aussies. The tide had turned. Fans, once disillusioned, now flocked back to the grounds. Rienzie’s gamble had paid off. He had helped reset the compass of Sri Lankan cricket.

Rienzie didn’t stay long — his role at HNB demanded full-time attention — but the legacy he left behind was etched in stone. A benchmark had been set and those who came after were expected to play by the same rules.

Rienzie’s no-nonsense approach to discipline also became part of cricketing folklore. When a promising young leg-spinner was involved in a late-night motor accident and allegedly tried to sweep the matter under the carpet with political help, his club and the police looked the other way. But not Rienzie.

The player, employed at HNB, was suspended. When the press asked for comment, Rienzie said, “An accident can happen. That is understandable. But fleeing the scene? That is unacceptable. You must have the courage to own up to your mistakes.”

In an era of sweeping things under the carpet, Rienzie stood tall. He was a straight shooter who played with a dead bat amidst political pressure. He never let powerful forces affect his judgment.

Such men are a rare breed. The banker may not have wielded a bat or worn the cap, but he walked in when Sri Lankan cricket was wobbling and helped it regain its footing. He was a true gentleman of the game, one who never played but helped save it. May he attain the supreme bliss of Nibbana!

by Rex Clementine ✍️

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Lyles and Bol seek third successive London victories

Published

6 hours ago

2025/07/19

Priyan

Noah Lyles wins in London [World Athletics]

Having provided some of the standout moments at the past two editions of the London Athletics Meet, world champions Noah Lyles and Femke Bol return to the Wanda Diamond League meeting in the British capital today (19) looking to work their magic once more.

For the third year in a row, Lyles will take on Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, the world athlete of the year. Just 0.03 separated them when they clashed over 200m in London two years ago, Lyles winning in 19.47. When they raced in London last year, both men emerged with 100m PBs, Lyles once again winning, 9.81 to Tebogo’s 9.88.

After a slightly delayed start to his Diamond League campaign, Lyles returned to action in Monaco last week and beat Tebogo over 200m, 19.88 to 19.97. The Olympic 100m champion will be keen to keep his London streak alive, but Tebogo will be fired up after their recent Monaco showdown.

On Saturday they will line up over 100m in a race that also includes South Africa’s Akani Simbine, who finished in between Lyles and Tebogo in London last year. World indoor champion Jeremiah Azu, world 100m bronze medallist Zharnel Hughes and Jamaican duo Oblique Seville and Ackeem Blake are also part of the high-quality line-up.

Bol is another athlete who has fond memories of this meeting. The Dutch 400m hurdler broke 52 seconds for the first time when winning in London in 2023, clocking a Diamond League record of 51.45. She improved on that when winning in London last year with 51.30.

Fresh from clocking a world-leading 51.95 in Monaco, Bol will take on a field that includes USA’s Jasmine Jones and Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight.

Having broken 10.80 in her past three Diamond League races over 100m, Olympic champion Julien Alfred moves up to the 200m in London, where she’ll be hoping to improve on her world-leading mark of 21.88. She’ll face 2019 world champion Dina Asher-Smith, Olympic finalist Daryll Neita, Spanish record-holder Jael Bestue and Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke.

In the men’s 400m, world leader Zakithi Nene takes on Matthew Hudson-Smith and Muzala Samukonga, the Olympic silver and bronze medallists respectively.

In the men’s discus, world record-holder Mykolas Alekna takes on the three men who, between them, have claimed every global title on offer from 2019 onwards.

Alekna, who won in Eugene at the start of the month, will take on two-time world champion Daniel Stahl, Olympic champion Roje Stona and 2022 world champion Kristjan Ceh, who has won his past nine competitions.

The men’s long jump is of a similarly high quality as the field includes all of the medallists from the 2024 Olympics, 2023 World Championships and 2025 World Indoor Championships.

World leader Miltiadis Tentoglou, winner of multiple major titles, takes on world indoor champion Mattia Furlani, Australia’s Liam Adcock, Swiss decathlete Simon Ehammer and leading Jamaican trio Tajay Gayle, Carey McLeod and Wayne Pinnock.

The women’s event, meanwhile, brings together two-time world champion Malaika Mihambo, world indoor champion Claire Bryant, European indoor champion Larissa Iapichino, 2023 European indoor champion Jazmin Sawyers and world heptathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

Elsewhere in the jumps, Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh takes on 2022 world champion Eleanor Patterson in the women’s high jump, while world champion Katie Moon faces 2024 world indoor champion Molly Caudery in the women’s pole vault.

The three men who claimed the 800m medals at the 2023 World Championships will reunite over two laps in London.

Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who recently clocked a world-leading 1:41.44 in Monaco, will face world champion Marco Arop of Canada and world bronze medallist Ben Pattison. The field also includes Spanish record-holder Mohamed Attaoui and 2019 world champion Donavan Brazier.

Kenyan teenager Phanuel Koech has been one of the revelations of this season, having set a world U20 1500m record of 3:27.72 in Paris in what was just his second race over the distance, then following it with a 3:29.05 victory in Ostrava.

But the majority of the home crowd will be cheering on the likes of world champion Josh Kerr, British 3000m and 5000m record-holder George Mills and 2022 world champion Jake Wightman. Australia’s Cameron Myers and Portugal’s Isaac Nader will also fancy their chances, given their recent good form.

Two-time world champion Gudaf Tsegay returns to the scene of her 4:16.14 PB and headlines a women’s mile field that also includes Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull and Ethiopian youngster Birke Haylom.

A closely matched women’s 800m field, meanwhile, features Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Georgia Hunter Bell, USA’s Addison Wiley, 2019 world champion Halimah Nakaayi and Olympic finalist Shafiqua Maloney.

[World Athletics]

Sports

UAE likely to host Afghanistan-Bangladesh T20Is in October

Published

7 hours ago

2025/07/19

Priyan

If the series goes ahead, it will be the first T20I meeting between Afghanistan and Bangladesh since their tense World Cup clash last year [Cricinfo]

Afghanistan are likely to host Bangladesh for a three-match T20I series in the UAE in October. The tour dates are not yet confirmed, but ESPNcricinfo has learned that the matches could take place after the scheduled Asia Cup in September, and before Bangladesh host West Indies in six white-ball matches in the third week of October.

If the series goes ahead, it will complete the second part of what was originally supposed to be an all-format engagement in July 2024, comprising two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is. The schedule was initially revised to include only white-ball matches, but that series, due to be played in Greater Noida, India, was postponed with weather conditions and Bangladesh’s packed schedule in mind.

The teams played the three-match ODI leg of the tour in November 2024, with Afghanistan winning 2-1.

ESPNcricinfo understands that the ACB and BCB are in discussions about playing the two Tests sometime next year.

If the T20I series goes ahead, it will be an important addition to Bangladesh’s run-up to the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in February-March 2026.

The series will also fill a gap in Afghanistan’s schedule between the Asia Cup and a full tour of Zimbabwe scheduled to start at the end of October. After that, they have three T20Is each against West Indies and New Zealand in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup.

The T20I series will be the first meeting between these teams in the format since their T20 World Cup clash in June 2024 in Kingstown, where Afghanistan’s thrilling win sealed their passage to their first-ever semi-finals appearance at a World Cup.

[Cricinfo]

Latest News

Henry’s three wickets set up the win as New Zealand cruise past Zimbabwe

Published

8 hours ago

2025/07/19

Priyan

[File photo] Matt Henry followed his 3 for 34 against South Africa with 3 for 26 against Zimbabwe [Cricinfo]

New Zealand took the lead in the Zimbabwe T20I tri-series points table after a second successive win, this time over the hosts. After New Zealand’s bowling attack kept Zimbabwe to 120, the lowest first-innings total of the tournament so far, their batters polished off the required runs inside 14 overs, which helped their net run rate balloon to 1.919.

Zimbabwe remain without a point, and with much work to do to avoid being knocked out of their own competition. They need to win both of their next two games, against South Africa and New Zealand, to progress to the final, and will need a major improvement in their batting to get there.

Although Zimbabwe played more aggressively than in their opening match – according to ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data, 27.5% of their shots were attacking in this innings compared with 20.83% in their previous game, against South Africa – they hit the same number of fours (11), two fewer sixes (one in this innings, three on Monday), and scored lesser runs overall on Friday than against South Africa.

Zimbabwe’s highest partnership against New Zealand was the opening stand of 37, which could not stand up to New Zealand’s two half-century stands. After the loss of Tim Seifert in the second over of the chase, Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra put on 59 off 44 balls before Conway and Daryl Mitchell combined for 58 off 32 deliveries to ease New Zealand to a win.

New Zealand will also be satisfied with the performance of their bowling attack. Matt Henry followed up his 3 for 34 against South Africa with 3 for 26 against Zimbabwe, and used the short ball to good effect. On a surface that turned substantially, New Zealand’s spinners Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell and Ravindra claimed a wicket each, and conceded just 43 runs in nine overs collectively.

Zimbabwe had no one to match either that wicket-taking or that economy. Blessing Muzarabani took a wicket, and conceded only at 6.75 runs an over. But that was good as it got for Zimbabwe. Their decision to leave out a spinner in Wellington Masakadza for seamer Tinotenda Maposa will also cause questions over their team balance.

Wesley Madhevere flicked the first ball off his pads and past Seifert to start Zimbabwe off with a boundary. Three balls later, he used his wrists to whip Henry behind square for four more. Zimbabwe had 11 runs from the opening over, more than double they scored against South Africa – and all of them belonged to Madheve. He came into this match under pressure – with only one score over 20 in his last 11 innings – and showed that he was willing to take things on, even if he didn’t always get it right.

In the second over, Madhevere advanced towards Jacob Duffy, swung hard but missed, and then tried to scoop. Together with Brian Bennett, Madhevere got Zimbabwe to 36 runs from the first five overs, and then with Clive Madande to 61 for 2 at the halfway stage. But his ambition got the better of him when he backed away and was too late on a shot off Adam Milne to be bowled for 36. At least, it was his highest score in 14 innings since his 43 against India a year ago.

Madhevere’s dismissal came 14 balls after Madande was deceived in flight from Ravindra, and stumped in the middle of a collapse of 5 for 37 that put the breaks on Zimbabwe. Ryan Burl struck two fours before he tried to reverse sweep against Bracewell and was caught at backward point. Sikandar Raza played across the line, and got a leading edge off Santner to be caught at extra cover. Tashinga Musekiwa tried to pull a short ball from Henry but top edged, and was well caught by Duffy at fine leg.

Zimbabwe were 98 for 6 in the 17th over, and lost the middle order in the space of 43 balls. They scored just 21 runs off the last three overs, and could not finish with any kind of flourish.

After reducing South Africa to 17 for 2 earlier this week, Richard Ngarava could have had a wicket with his first ball against New Zealand. He went on a back of a length, and got an outside edge off Seifert, but the chance fell short of Burl at slip. Four balls later, Conway, on 1 at the time, reached out for a wider delivery, and edged to short third but Blessing Muzarabani fluffed the chance.

Muzarabani made up for that when he removed Seifert with his first ball, albeit not his best one. He went short and wide outside off, and Seifert hit in the air to Musekiwa at cover. Ngarava was not quite as lucky, though. In his next over, Ravindra was beaten by a ball that moved away late, and then Ngarava thought he had Conway out caught behind but the umpire was unmoved.

Muzarabani got Conway to miscue a pull, and then hit the ball in the air towards mid-off. But both chances landed safely. New Zealand were 19 for 1 after four overs, and had only hit one boundary until then, which showed Zimbabwe’s ability to put them under pressure. But a hat-trick of boundaries from Ravindra off Trevor Gwandu meant Zimbabwe could not keep them there.

While Ravindra settled in the powerplay, Conway’s stay at the crease was streaky. He top-edged Muzarabani for his first boundary, and Maposa for his second. Maposa almost dismissed Conway off another top edge when he rushed Conway into a pull, but the chance fell short of fine leg. Immediately after that, Conway was nearly down on his haunches, and appeared to be struggling with his health.

But later in the over, he sliced Maposa over backward point. Still, he was nearly run-out two overs later when Mitchell called him through for a quick single, and he was not in the frame when the throw came in at the striker’s end. It was only when Conway smashed Ngarava over the deep-midwicket boundary for six that he looked like he was in control. He went on to send Raza over long-on for a second six, and brought up his fifty off 34 balls. It was Conway’s highest score in six T20I innings dating back to last year’s T20 World Cup, and his second half-century in his last 15 T20I innings.

Brief scores:
New Zealand 122 for 2 in 13.5 overs (Devon Conway 59*, Rachin Ravindra 30, Daryl Mitchell 26*; Blessing Muzarabani 1-27, Tinotenda Maposa 1-17) beat Zimbabwe 120 for 7 in 20 overs (Wessley Madhevere 36, Brian Benett 21, Sikander Raza 12, Ryan Burl 12, Tony Munyonga 13; Matt Henry 3-26, Adam Milne 1-30, Mitchell Santner 1-18, Michael Bracewell 1-15, Rachin Ravindra 1-10) by eight wickets

[Cricinfo]