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U-19 World Cup: Henil, Kundu secure India’s first win

Published

2 months ago

2026/01/16

Priyan

Henil Patel took the tournament's first five-wicket haul [Cricinfo]

Five-time champions India began their 2026 Men’s Under-19 World Cup campaign with a six wicket win (via DLS) over United States of America, but not without a brief scare.

When right-arm quick Henil Patel’s five-wicket haul skittled USA for 107, it looked like it would be an easy win for India. However, in a rain-affected chase, India lost three wickets – including those of captain Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi – inside the first six overs. But Abhigyan Kundu, who hit a double-century in the Under-19 Asia Cup in the lead up to the World Cup, played an assured knock to seal the deal.

Henil, who draws inspiration from Dale Steyn, struck in his first over in the first innings, with Amrinder Gill the first to fall to his extra bounce as he edged one to second slip. USA opener Sahil Garg and wicketkeeper Arjun Mahesh then put up a resistance, even if runs were hard to come by. They added 28 runs in 45 deliveries before Garg sent Deepesh Devendran’s short ball straight to deep third.

Two overs later, Henil had his second when USA captain Utkarsh Srivastava shouldered arms but couldn’t get his bat out of the way, dragging the ball onto the stumps. This was the first of two double-wicket overs for Henil, as he had the set Mahesh slicing to deep third too.

Spin was introduced in the 16th over and the decision paid off as Amogh Arepally chipped left-arm spinner Khilan Patel to cover. However, Adnit Jhamb and Nitish Sudini looked settled against the spin and put on USA’s highest partnership – 30 in 8.5 overs.

Sudini tried some big shots, but was beaten by the spin, however the pair rotated strike nicely. With the spinners failing to create an opening, Mhatre went back to pace and RS Ambrish got the breakthrough with a length ball that took Jhamb’s outside edge.

A brilliant piece of fielding then sent Adit Kappa back. He hit a ball to cover’s right and took off for the single, but Vihaan Malhotra – a livewire in the field – dived and made a good stop. He then nailed a direct hit at the non-striker’s end.

With just three wickets in hand, Sudini then upped the tempo but Henil ended a 25-run stand by bouncing out Sabrish Prasad. Next ball, Henil cleaned up No. 10 Rishabh Shimpi and found himself on a hat-trick. But he never got another crack as Sudini tried to take on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s part-time bowling and picked out long-off, leaving India 108 to chase.

India’s start to the chase was scratchy. First, the players had to walk off for a short rain delay before the first ball of the chase. When they returned, Mhatre cut the first ball straight to point where Gill put down a straight-forward chance. Sooryavanshi then miscued a shot down the ground, but managed to clear mid-off.

It looked like the nerves had calmed when Mhatre hit two gorgeous boundaries off left-armer Shimpi. But Ritvik Appidi, denied in the first over, wasn’t going to be denied again. On the second ball of his second over, Sooryavanshi charged down but was cramped for room and dragged the ball onto his stumps. One over later, the players went off due to lightning nearby and the delay was extended by a spell of rain that left behind a wet outfield.

There was more trouble for India once play resumed after a two-hour delay. Appidi troubled No. 3 Vedant Trivedi throughout the over and on the last ball, Trivedi hit a crisp cut straight to Gill, who held on this time.

With another drizzle around and perhaps feeling the need to up the tempo, Mhatre went on the attack next over. He got a top edge off a pull for four off Shimpi but when he went to hook another short ball, Gill took a good catch running in from deep fine leg. Gill slipped as he ran in, but maintained his composure to complete the catch.

In walked Kundu and immediately stamped his authority with a sublime drive through cover point for four. Malhotra got off the mark first ball with a back-foot punch through covers and in the next over, Kundu hit back-to-back on-drives off Shimpi.

Kundu hit another smooth drive through point before a mix-up almost cost Malhotra’s wicket when he tapped one in front of point and took off for a single. But Malhotra didn’t last long as Srivastava drew the outside edge and Garg grabbed the chance at slip.

Kundu and Kanishk Chouhan ensured there were no more hiccups for India. In the 18th over, Kundu lofted Kappa down the ground for four to bring the target within one hit. He then finished the game with a six over long-on to finish unbeaten on a 41-ball 42.

Brief scores:
India Under 19s 99 for 4 (Abigiyan Kundu 42*; Ritvik Appidi 2-24) beat USA Under 19s 107 (Nitish Sudini 36; Henil Patel 5-16) by six wickets (via DLS)

[Cricinfo]

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A new curriculum will be introduced for preschools in 2027, while steps will also be taken to train teachers accordingly – PM

Published

6 hours ago

2026/03/16

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that a new curriculum will be introduced for preschools in 2027, while steps will also be taken to train teachers accordingly and to regulate preschools through a regulatory authority.

The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing an awareness programme for preschool teachers in the Hambantota District on education reforms, held on Sunday (15) at the Ambalantota Pradeshiya Sabha Auditorium.

During the programme, preschool teachers briefed the Prime Minister about the challenges they currently face. Responding to their concerns, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya further stated:

“The issues within the preschool system cannot be discussed separately from the broader crisis in society and in the education sector. When we assumed office in 2024, our primary challenge was to free the country from its debt burden and to establish. a sound economic indicators.

Although 2025 was a challenging year, we were able to bring the country’s economy to a certain level of stability and manage the national budget accordingly.

While we were working towards economic recovery, the war in the Middle East began, which has had certain impacts on our country as well.

A significant amount of Sri Lanka’s foreign remittances come from our fellow citizens working in the Middle East. Today, both their livelihoods and employment are under threat. In addition, a large number of tourists travelled to Sri Lanka through Middle Eastern airspace, and the closure of those air routes and airports has reduced tourist arrivals. Another issue concerns fuel transportation. This problem has affected not only Sri Lanka but many countries around the world. If the war continues for a long period, it will have further impacts on us, and therefore we must be prepared. We also need to manage the economy carefully and reduce certain expenditures.

Although we have the ability to borrow, our intention is not to weaken the country’s economy by relying on loans.

You are aware that we have begun implementing education reforms. Within that policy framework, we are also taking steps to reform preschool education. So far, the establishment of preschools and early childhood development has not been carried out in a systematic manner. Therefore, we must regulate and standardize all preschools, which is not an easy task.

First, all preschools must be formally registered. We have already prepared a curriculum for teacher training. In addition, we plan to introduce a new curriculum for preschools in 2027, provide teacher training accordingly, and regulate preschools through a regulatory authority. A recognized curriculum has also been prepared for the preschool diploma. In the future, priority for preschool teachers will be given based on these qualifications. We will also take gradual steps to enhance the professionalism of preschool teachers and establish a proper salary structure”.

The Prime Minister further stated that preschools fall under the authority of Provincial Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas, while the line ministry can only provide policy recommendations. She also emphasized that issues related to preschools should be addressed in a systematic manner through structural committees and District Development Committees.

Member of Parliament Nihal Galappaththi and other public representatives, along with preschool teachers from the Hambantota District attended the awareness program.

(Prime Minister’s Media Division)

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Heat Index at ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala, Mannar, Anuradhapura and Vavuniya districts

Published

7 hours ago

2026/03/16

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. on 15 March 2026, valid for 16 March 2026.

The public is warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at
some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North-western provinces and in Monaragala, Mannar, Anuradhapura and Vavuniya districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED
Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated.
Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491

Latest News

Three more Iran football team members change minds over asylum

Published

1 day ago

2026/03/15

Priyan

One of the three has been named as Mona Hamoudi, pictured here during a match against the Philippines on 8 March [BBC]

Three more members of the Iranian women’s football delegation – who were given humanitarian visas to stay in Australia – have changed their mind and will return home.

The trio have been named by human rights activists in the Iranian diaspora as Zahra Soltan Meshkehkar, Mona Hamoudi, and Zahra Sarbali.

Concerns grew for the Iranian team after they were silent for the country’s anthem in their opening Asian Cup match against South Korea on 2 March – which led to them being branded “war traitors” in Iran.

Confirming the decisions, Australia’s home affairs minister said his government had done everything it could to ensure the women were given the chance to have a safe future in the country.

“Australians should be proud that it was in our country that these women experienced a nation presenting them with genuine choices and interacted with authorities seeking to help them,” Tony Burke said in a statement.

“While the Australian government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions.”

Iran’s sports ministry also earlier confirmed the news, first reported by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-linked Tasnim News Agency, in a statement.

“The national spirit and patriotism of the Iranian women’s national football team defeated the enemy’s plans against this team,” the statement says, also accusing Australia’s government of “playing in Trump’s field”.

Tasnim said the three were on their way to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to join the rest of the squad and were “returning to the warm embrace of their families and homeland after withdrawing their asylum application in Australia”.

It said they had resisted “psychological warfare, extensive propaganda and seductive offers”.

It means that, of the seven who initially said they wanted to stay in Australia, only three now remain as defectors. One of the players made the same decision to return to Iran on Wednesday.

Hamoudi and Sarbali were among the original five who refused, after giving minders the slip at the team’s hotel on the Gold Coast, south of Brisbane, last Monday and being taken to a safe house by Australian Federal Police.

Zahra Soltan Meshkehkar, a member of the team’s technical staff, was one of two more women from the group to seek asylum the next day. The other – Mohaddeseh Zolfi – changed her mind hours after being given the right to stay. She is understood to have already rejoined the team.

There was concern in Australia that members of the team and their families might face repercussions in Iran after the players refused to sing the national anthem.

One conservative commentator on Iranian state media accused them of being “wartime traitors” and called for a harsh punishment.

The team did sing the anthem in their last two games before they were eliminated on Sunday, leading critics to believe they had been told to sing by government officials accompanying them during the tournament.

The remaining Iranian players left Australia on Tuesday night local time – two days after they were knocked out of the Asian Cup.

[BBC]