Sports

World Cup title continues to elude as batting fails

Published

4 years ago

2022/01/30

Sahan Weerasooriya

ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup

by Reemus Fernando

Sri Lanka probably had the best lead up to the ICC Under 19 Cricket World Cup, a multifaceted coaching staff, a captain who had played Youth International matches since 2018, and a team heavily laden with all-rounders, yet a maiden Under 19 World Cup title continued to elude them as Afghanistan ended Sri Lanka’s unbeaten run in the crucial quarter-final in Antigua on Thursday. One might see the excessive number (four) of run-outs as the main cause for defeat but as it could be seen from the group stage, the team were still in search of a batsman who could bat it through to the end.

A vast majority of Sri Lanka Under 19 bowlers having the ability to bat down the order was giving the team an edge over their counterparts. But was it something that the team could solely rely on? Did not Sri Lanka miss the service of a batsman in the calibre of Pawan Pathiraja?

Pathiraja was the most consistent batsman in the run-up to the ICC World Cup and played the much-needed anchor role when the team were in trouble. He was the key batsman in Sri Lanka’s series victories over both Bangladesh and England Under 19s in the run-up to the World Cup, though he was not at his best at the Under 19 Asia Cup where he had only one half-century.

The team management had been given the best available players after a systematic selection process followed by Sri Lanka Cricket’s selectors. Despite the absence of Schools Cricket during the pandemic period, the selectors had done an admirable job in picking a formidable side. Everything looked hunky-dory until the World Cup commenced as the team had two series victories and the runner up title of the Under 19 Asia Cup against their name.

Sri Lanka Under 19s remained unbeaten during the group stage where there was a shared responsibility in the batting department. There were just three half-centuries of which two were scored in adversity. While skipper Dunith Wellalage scored 52 runs to launch a fightback to beat Australia, Sakuna Liyanage top scored with 85 runs in the opener against Scotland to help the team secure a positive start to the tournament. The only other half-century was by Sadeesha Rajapaksa who scored 76 runs in the final group match against West Indies.

With no batsman showing consistency during the Group stage it was intriguing to note the absence of Pathiraja in the last three matches of the World Cup. Until the World Cup, Pathiraja had played in 13 matches and had batted on 12 occasions. He had aggregated 475 runs, the highest by a Sri Lankan batsmen. Apart from Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Pathiraja was the only batsman to have scored a Youth ODI century. He was out for naught in the first World Cup match against Scotland and was not picked again.

Sri Lanka’s bowling and Wellalage’s selection of bowlers, at various junctures, were truly remarkable. His decision to keep faith in Vinuja Ranpul in the quarterfinal is a case in point. Playing his first match of the World Cup, Ranpul bowled his first eight overs at a stretch. Despite not taking a wicket in his first five overs he was persevered with and he produced results in his sixth and seventh overs and triggered a collapse. He took five wickets for ten runs, though it was in vain. He played no part in the World Cup until the quarter-final and fans would not even have seen him bowl if not for an injury to Matheesha Pathirana.

Sri Lanka will now take on South Africa on Monday in the competition to decide the final standings of teams.

Of the bowlers, Wellalage still has the chance to leave the World Cup as the highest wicket-taker. As of Friday (28) Wellalage had 16 wickets in four matches. That was four more than the second-highest wicket-taker, Joshua Boyden of England U19s.

All News Advertisement

Latest News

BCB issues show cause notice to Nazmul Islam but Bangladesh players firm on boycott

Published

8 mins ago

2026/01/15

Priyan

Chattogram Royals were scheduled to play against Noakhali Express in the first BPL game of the day [Cricinfo]

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has issued a show cause notice to its director M Nazmul Islam over his “objectionable comments” in public against the country’s cricketers on Wednesday.

The notice came a couple of hours before the scheduled start of the BPL matches for the day, though the players’ body CWAB has called for a nationwide boycott on all forms of cricket unless Islam tenders his resignation.

The four first-division matches in the Dhaka Cricket League scheduled for the day didn’t start on Thursday morning, which caused serious concern in the BCB. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express players, who were supposed to play the first BPL match on Thursday, are sticking to the boycott.

“The board has already initiated formal disciplinary proceedings against the board member concerned,” the BCB statement read. “A show cause letter has been issued, and the individual has been instructed to submit a written response within 48 hours. The matter will be dealt with through due process and appropriate action will be taken based on the outcome of the proceedings.”

ESPNcricinfo understands that some board directors contacted the CWAB president Mohammad Mithun late on Wednesday night, offering that they would make Nazmul stand down from his role as the finance committee chairman. But Mithun said the cricketers’ call for the boycott remained in place.

The toss of the first BPL match on Thursday is at 12.30 pm local time. Once the start time for the match has passed, the CWAB leaders are supposed to hold a press conference, where they will present the BCB with their demands, including the resignation of the director.

[Cricinfo]

Latest News

Senegal beat Egypt 1-0 in AFCON semifinal as Sadio Mane scores late

Published

4 hours ago

2026/01/15

Priyan

Senegal's Sadio Mane scores the only goal of the game [Aljazeeera]

Sadio Mane fired Senegal into the final of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 victory over seven-time winners Egypt.

The two-time African Footballer of the Year broke the deadlock in the 78th minute on Wednesday when he let fly from just outside the penalty area inside the bottom left corner after Lamine Camara’s initial effort was blocked.

It sparked joy and relief among the Teranga Lions’ fans in Tangier, where the 2021 champions – after beating Egypt in the final – had taken the initiative but struggled to create clear chances against the Pharaohs’ stubborn defence.

Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly will miss the title match – against either host Morocco or Nigeria, who were to play in Rabat later on Wednesday – after picking up a yellow card that meant a suspension and then going off injured in the 23rd minute.

Koulibaly was booked in the 17th for a tactical foul on Omar Marmoush. The captain was also sent off in the group-stage win over Benin and consequently missed the win over Sudan. His tournament was effectively ended when he had to be replaced by Mamadou Sarr because of injury.

Nicolas Jackson had fired over just before Senegal displayed more attacking intent. Habib Diarra and Pape Gueye also had efforts saved.

Tensions boiled over when Mohamed Salah fouled his former Liverpool teammate Mane, but Senegal coach Pape Thiaw and Egypt counterpart Hossam Hassan managed to cool tempers.

Senegal’s Habib Diarra was booked for arguing, however, meaning he will miss the final, too.

[Aljazeera]

Latest News

Bangladesh cricketers threaten boycott unless BCB director Nazmul Islam resigns

Published

7 hours ago

2026/01/15

Priyan

Will the BPL matches go ahead on Thursday? [Cricinfo]

Bangladesh’s cricketers have threatened a boycott of all forms of cricket unless BCB director M Nazmul Islam tenders his resignation, following disparaging comments he made against players on Wednesday. Nazmul, the board’s finance committee chairman, had said earlier on Wednesday that he believes national cricketers should be asked to return the “crores and crores of taka” that the BCB spends on them.

Mohammad Mithun, the president of the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), raised the prospect of a boycott – which will have immediate impact on the BPL – hours after Nazmul’s press conference at the BCB’s headquarters in Dhaka.

“The remark made by the BCB director Najmul Islam has hurt the cricket fraternity greatly and it’s not acceptable,” Mithun told reporters on Wednesday evening. “We demand his resignation. If he doesn’t resign before tomorrow’s match, we will announce a boycott of all cricket, starting from the BPL matches tomorrow (Thursday).”

There are two BPL matches scheduled for January 15. ESPNcricinfo understands that team captains Najmul Hossain Shanto (Rajshahi Warriors), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Sylhet Titans), Mahedi Hasan (Chattogram Royals) and Mithun (Dhaka Capitals), along with Noakhali coach Khaled Mahmud have confirmed their solidarity with the boycott call.

Nazmul’s comments, which the BCB has officially distanced itself from, were made on the sidelines of the board’s prayer meeting for the late former prime minister Khaled Zia. They come as part of ongoing reverberations from the BCB’s decision to not play matches in India at the upcoming T20 World Cup. The ICC event is co-hosted with Sri Lanka and the BCB, citing security concerns, has remained firm in not wanting to play games in India, a decision they made after the BCCI instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders to remove Mustafizur Rahman from their playing roster.

Nazmul was asked questions about the potential financial implications for Bangladesh should they end up not playing in the T20 World Cup at all. He responded by saying the board would not take a hit and that only the cricketers would, adding that there would be no compensation for them should they miss out. “Why would there be? Are we asking them for the crores and crores of taka that we are spending on them? Answer me first.

“We are spending so much money on them, they are not being able to do anything in different places. Have we got any international awards? What have we done at any level? Let us now ask them for the money back after every time they couldn’t play. Give us back. Why should there even be a question of compensating the players?”

The BCB released a statement soon after, making it clear Nazmul’s views were his alone. “The Board expresses its sincere regret for remarks that may be deemed inappropriate, offensive, or hurtful. Such comments do not reflect the values, principles, or official position of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, nor do they align with the standards of conduct expected from individuals entrusted with the responsibility of serving Bangladesh cricket.

“The BCB reiterates that it does not endorse or take responsibility for any statement or remark made by any director or Board member unless issued formally through the Board’s designated spokesperson or the Media & Communications Department. Any statements made outside these authorised channels are personal in nature and should not be interpreted as representing the views or policies of the Board.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board also makes it clear that it will take appropriate disciplinary action against any individual whose conduct or comments show disrespect towards cricketers or cause harm to the reputation and integrity of Bangladesh cricket.”

It is the second time in quick succession that Nazmul has put himself in the spotlight for comments against players. Earlier this week he had hit out at Tamim Iqbal in a Facebook post, over comments the former Bangladesh captain made last Friday, calling for the BCB to think through more carefully their decision-making over participation in the T20 World Cup. “Bangladesh cricket’s interest, future and everything else must be considered before making such a decision,” Tamim had said, urging for a resolution to be found through dialogue.

Nazmul and another board director Asif Akbar were harsh in their response to Tamim’s statement, saying that he was acting in the interests of India on this issue.

[Cricinfo]