Sports

The Year of Debutants

Published

4 years ago

2022/01/2

by Rex Clementine

When the big three; Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and T.M. Dilshan retired around the same time six years ago, we expected the transition to take two or maybe three years and young players to fill their big shoes. However, the transition took longer than we expected. Injuries, a fragile First Class tournament, vast gap between domestic and international cricket have seen our cricket being pushed to the doldrums. Sri Lanka’s rankings in international cricket dropped at an alarming rate. The team’s current position of seventh in Tests, ninth in ODIs and eighth in T20s sums up the sorry state of affairs. Regular finalists in ICC events are now forced to play qualifying rounds. However, there was light at the end of the tunnel in 2021. New talents emerged and the future looks bright.

Last year was the year of debutants. Despite some drawbacks, the selectors need to be commended for backing several young players. Many of them came good and are looking set to take on bigger responsibilities.

Among the debutants that Sri Lanka had in 2021, there were five standouts. Who are they, how well they fared in 2021 and what can we expect from them moving forward?

Pathum Nissanka

Young Pathum Nissanka’s story has been celebrated by everyone who cares for Sri Lankan cricket. As a schoolboy, having received a scholarship from Kalutara Vidyalaya to Isipathana College, Colombo he struggled to make ends meet. From the humblest of beginnings, the top order batsman has gone onto become a household name. He rewrote record books this year by becoming the first Sri Lankan to score a hundred on debut overseas.

Pathum looked a player ideally suited for Test match cricket. But on the recommendations of former skipper Mahela Jayawardene who joined the national team set up as a consultant coach ahead of the T-20 World Cup in UAE, the selectors took a gamble by drafting him into the T-20 squad and made him to open the innings. He was a revelation. He was told to do a Marvan Atapattu; bat through the innings while others looked for boundaries.

Not only did he bat through the innings, his primarily responsibility, but by doing so he produced match winning scores as well. His maturity during the recent West Indies series where he made three half-centuries in four innings gives us the assurance that Sri Lanka has found the perfect partner for skipper Dimuth Karunaratne.

Praveen Jayawickrama

While young Pathum was plying his trade at Kalutara Vidyalaya, a few meters away Praveen Jayawickrama was his rival at Holy Cross College. A classical left-arm orthodox spinner, who bowls with superb control, Praveen grabbed his opportunity with both hands when he was called up to Kandy as injury replacement to face Bangladesh in April.

Leading spinner Lasith Embuldeniya was injured and the selectors opted for Prabath Jayasuriya. But he failed the skinfolds test making him ineligible for selection. Backing Praveen, with just a handful of First Class games behind him, was a huge call especially against a side like Bangladesh that played spin well. But he bowled Sri Lanka to victory claiming 11 wickets on debut.

If Praveen works on a few variations he will be quite handful even when conditions do not offer much assistance.

Ramesh Mendis

Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda produce sporting talents in abundance. A lot of people seem to back Ramesh as an all-rounder because he has scored a triple hundred in First Class cricket. But do not get too excited about players achievements in First Class cricket. As an off-spinner he can go places. Someone who never gives up, young Ramesh in four Tests has already picked up 26 wickets.

Given his insatiable hunger to learn and improve, you have seen Ramesh making steady progress this year and he was Player of the Series as Sri Lanka overcame West Indies 2-0 having claimed 18 wickets.

Bigger challenges await him when the national cricket team tour India in February and it will be a good learning experience. Even the greatest spinners of the sport be it Muttiah Muralitharan or Shane Warne have had their work cut out in India and it remains to be seen how young Mendis will take up the challenge. He has been so far used as the attacking option by his captain Dimuth Karunaratne but in India, he will have to do more of a containing role.

Maheesh Theekshana

St. Benedict’s have waited for several decades to produce a Sri Lankan cricketer and that drought ended when Maheesh Theekshana debuted against Proteas this year in a home bilateral series. During the World T-20 that followed, he was entrusted to bowl during the Power Plays and he did a terrific job.

Theekshana enlisted in the Army after leaving school and has been one of their key performers. Army has invested a lot in their cricket in recent times and they are producing some match winners for the national cricket team.

As of now, Theekshana is one dimensional and he needs to work on a stock ball and the accuracy of his variations. With a bit of mystery in him, he will be quite a handful when Sri Lanka tour Australia in February.

Charith Asalanka

Perhaps the brightest of all these talents has been Charith Asalanka. Richmond College, Galle under his leadership were a formidable outfit and he was the overwhelming choice as Sri Lanka Under-19 captain.

His elevation to the senior side took longer than most expected. An intelligent and shrewd captain, he maybe not the most elegant batsman around but certainly an effective young player.

Everyone was surprised when he finished the T-20 World Cup as the team’s highest run getter. He was not even in the team management’s original plans but was Hobson’s choice. His inclusion in the side gave Sri Lanka much needed impetus and suddenly despite being forced to play the qualifying round, many were talking of Sri Lanka as dark horses.

The most impressive thing about Charith has been that he is bold. Often when a young player comes into the side the fear factor gets the better of him. Charith throws caution to the wind. The way he put away Pat Cummins in the first ball he faced against the Aussies was a treat to watch. Kumar Sangakkara is a careful man and he chooses his words even more carefully. But when he anoints someone as his successor that means we are in for some serious business. Exciting times ahead.

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Sports

Sri Lanka World Cup games uninterrupted despite cyclone and flooding

Published

7 hours ago

2025/12/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Pallekele Stadium in Kandy all set for World Cup fixtures.

Sri Lanka’s share of the T20 World Cup will go ahead without disruption despite a recent cyclone and severe flooding that left large parts of the country battered and bruised.

Tournament organisers confirmed that matches scheduled in the island nation will proceed as planned, with Sri Lanka co-hosting the sport’s showpiece event alongside India. Three venues in Sri Lanka will stage games during the competition.

Sri Lanka is set to host 20 of the 55 matches in the tournament. Should Pakistan advance deep into the competition, the island will also stage a semi-final and the final, as Pakistan are unable to travel to India due to long-standing political tensions between the neighbours.

On November 27, cyclonic storm Ditwah swept across Sri Lanka and several other South-East Asian countries, bringing daily life to a grinding halt. Flooding and landslides claimed at least 634 lives, with more than 200 deaths reported in the central city of Kandy.

A recent inspection of facilities in Kandy, however, allayed fears, with authorities giving the ground the all-clear after confirming that damage was minimal.

“We are happy with the progress we have made and it is going to be a superb event,” an official involved in inspecting the Pallekele Stadium told Telecom Asia Sport. “Sri Lanka has hosted ICC events before with great success and we have no doubt this tournament will be another feather in our cap. Kandy has been cleared, as have the other two venues.”

Work is also nearing completion at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club ground, where floodlights are being installed ahead of five scheduled matches. The capital’s R. Premadasa Stadium will host the bulk of the fixtures, including the blockbuster India–Pakistan clash on February 15.

“There has been huge demand for tickets for the India–Pakistan game,” the official said. “We expect a surge of tourists into Colombo around that fixture, which will provide a significant boost to the economy. Travel companies have already rolled out special packages and we anticipate full houses for several marquee games. India–Pakistan is the main attraction, no doubt, but matches like Sri Lanka versus Australia are also keenly awaited.”

Sri Lanka recently staged several Women’s World Cup matches, some of which were affected by rain. Organisers, however, are confident the weather will stay out of the contest this time, with February and March traditionally dry months in both Colombo and Kandy. (www.telecomasia.net)

Sports

Maliban biscuits partners Yevan David as Sri Lanka enters Formula 3 history

Published

7 hours ago

2025/12/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Maliban Biscuits has announced a partnership with rising motorsport talent Yevan David, as he prepares to compete on the international stage in the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Championship.

At just 18, Yevan has emerged as one of Asia’s fastest-rising drivers, competing across some of Europe’s toughest circuits and creating history as the first Sri Lankan to race in the FIA Formula 3 Championship. This partnership brings together a young athlete redefining what’s possible for Sri Lanka in global motorsport and a homegrown brand that has consistently backed Sri Lankan ambition on the field, on the track, and beyond.

Yevan’s racing story began in go-karts, starting with early laps at the Sri Lanka Karting Circuit before moving into competitive karting in Singapore, where he quickly started stacking international results, including winning the IAME Asia Series (X30 Cadet) and the X30 Asia Cup. After graduating from karts, he stepped into single-seaters in 2024 across UAE F4, Spanish F4 and Eurocup-3, then announced himself in Europe by winning twice on his Euroformula Open debut weekend at Monza. In 2025, he underlined that momentum by taking the Euroformula Open Rookie title and finishing second overall, cementing his status as one of the most compelling young talents to emerge from Sri Lanka onto the global grid.

Commenting on the partnership, Yevan David said:

“Partnering with Maliban means a lot to me. They’ve supported Sri Lankan sport for generations, so having them beside me as I take this next step feels special. I’m proud to carry our flag forward with a brand that believes in our country’s potential as much as I do.”

Over the years, the brand has stood firmly behind Sri Lanka’s sporting journey across every level of competition, supporting the New Zealand U85kg Rugby Tour of Sri Lanka on the international stage, strengthening hockey at school level, backing the Sri Lanka U19 Women’s Cricket Team, supporting the U20 Men’s and Women’s rugby teams, championing Sri Lanka Rugby at the Asia Rugby Qualifiers and powering the Inter Club Rugby League and Clifford Cup Knockout Championship 2025/2026. This continued investment reflects a long-term commitment to building opportunity, confidence, and national pride through sport.

With Maliban’s support, Yevan’s journey to the FIA Formula 3 grid becomes more than an individual milestone, it becomes a national statement of belief and progress. Together, Maliban and Yevan will carry Sri Lanka’s flag into every corner, every lap, and every finish line he chases in 2026.

Sports

Lumbini collapse after strong start

Published

7 hours ago

2025/12/23

Sahan Weerasooriya

Lumbini were strongly placed after Nikil Abilash and Kisandu Dulneth put on a first wicket stand of 128 runs in reply to Isipatana’s 190, but a sudden collapse saw them end day one at 144 for five wickets in the Under 19 traditional encounter at Colts ground.

‎At Campbell Park, spinner Chaniru Senarathne produced figures 22-3-55-5 for Trinity in the traditional encounter against Wesley.

‎In an Under 19 Division I Tier ‘A’ cricket enountet at Bambalapitiya Savi Fernando and Asadisa de Silva put on an unbeaten 90 runs stand for the second wicket to help St. Peter’s reach 93 for one wicket at stumps in reply to DS Senanayake’s 241 on day one.

‎Asadisa was unbeaten on 53 after having faced 98 balls for his knock which included five fours and a six.

Match Scores

‎‎DSS 241, St. Peter’s 93/1 at Bambalapitiya

‎Scores

‎DSS

241 all out in 58.5 overs (Bihan Gamage 40, Shevan Welgama 66, Randisha Bandaranaike 29, Chithum Baddage 27; Sadeesha Silva 2/62, Janith Panditharathna 3/77)

‎St. Peter’s

93 for 1 in 33 overs (Savi Fernando 32n.o., Asadisa de Silva 53n.o.)

‎

‎Wesley 200/9 decl., Trinity 40/1 at Campbell Park

‎‎Scores

‎Wesley 200 for 9 decl. in 78 overs (Rasheed Nahyan 43, Rashmika Amararathne 36, Methnula Mayadunna 37n.o.; Chaniru Senarathne 5/55)

‎Trinity

40 for 1 in 15 overs

‎

‎Isipatana 190, Lumbini 144/5 at Colts

‎‎Scores

‎Isipatana 190 all out in 57 overs (Navidu Umeth 33, Yuveen Keshan 48, Janith Selaka 54; Yashod Kavindu 4/57, Dinal Sewmina 2/10)