SRI LANKA CRICKET NEWS – By Victor Melder
Chairman of cricket selectors Upul Tharanga said that Dhananjaya de Silva has been appointed the new captain of the Sri Lanka Test team succeeding Dimuth Karunaratne. Kusal Mendis will be the vice-captain. De Silva will become the country’s 18th Test captain when he leads Sri Lanka in the one-off Test against Afghanistan next month. Karunaratne was Sri Lanka’s Test captain from 2018-19 till 2023 leading his country in 28 Tests with 12 wins, 10 losses and 6 draws. He captained Sri Lanka to three series victories, a rare 2-0 win in South Africa making Sri Lanka the only Asian country to win a series in Rainbow Nation in 2018-19, and 2-0 wins against West Indies (2021) and Ireland (2023). (Daily Financial Times, 6.1.2024)
The first One Day International (ODI), played at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, between the touring Zimbabweans and Sri Lanka, ended in no result, with rain affecting play. Scores:
Sri Lanka – 273/9 in 50 Overs (Asalanka 101, Mendis 46, Samarawickrama 41, Ngarava 2/39, Akram 2/58, Muzarabam 2/62)
Zimbabwe – 12/2 in 4 Overs (Kaitano 1, Shumba 2no)
One Day Debut: Janith Liyanage (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka beat the touring Zimbabweans by 2 wickets to win the second ODI, played at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. Scores:
Zimbabwe – 208 in 44.4 Overs (Ervine 82, Burl 31, Gumbie 30, Shumba 26, Tillekeratne 4/32, Chameera 2/44, Vandersay 2/47)
Sri Lanka – 211/8 in 49 Overs (Liyanage 95, Arachchige 21, Ngarava 5/32, Raza 2/32)
Player of the Match: Janith Liyanage (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka beat the touring Zimbabweans by 8 wickets to win the third and final ODI, played at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. Scores:
Zimbabwe – 96 in 22.2 Overs (Gumbie 29, Kaitano 17, Hasaranga 7/19)
Sri Lanka – 97/2 in 16.4 Overs (Mendis 66no, Masakadza 1/15)
Sri Lanka won the 3-match series, 2-0.
One Day Debut: Shavan Daniel (Sri Lanka)
Player of the Match: Wananinda Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)
Player of the Series: Jagath Liynagae (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka beat the touring Zimbabweans by 3 wickets to win the first T20 International, played at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. Scores:
Zimbabwe – 143/5 in 20 Overs (Raza 62, Kamuahukamwe 27, Theekshana 2/16, Hasaranga 2/19)
Sri Lanka – 144/7 in 20 Overs (Mathews 46, Shanaka 26no, Raza 3/13, Muzaraban 2/330
Player of the Match: Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka)
The touring Zimbabweans beat Sri Lanka by 4 wickets to win the second T20 International, plated at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. Scores:
Sri Lanka – 173/6 in 20 Overs (Asalanka 69, Mathews 66, Jonqwe 2/32, Muzaraban 2/36)
Zimbabwe – 178/6 in 19.5 Overs (Ervine 70, Bennett 25, Jonqwe 25, Theekshana 2/25, Chameera 2/30)
Player of the Match: Luke Jonqwe (Zimbabwe)
Sri Lanka beat the touring Zimbabweans by 9 wickets to win the third and final T20 International, played at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo. Scores:
Zimbabwe – 82 in 14.1 Overs (Bennett 29, Williams 15, Hasaranga 4/15, Theekshana2/14, Mathews 2/15)
Sri Lanka – 88/1 in 10.5 Overs (Nissanka 39no, Mendis 33,Williams 1/13)
Sri Lanka won the 3-match Series: 2-1.
Player of the Match: Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)
Player of the Series: Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka Cricket decided to obtain the services of some of the best-known talents in international cricket to provide advanced training for local coaches, trainers, and physiotherapists to enhance their skills and competencies by conducting periodic training programs in selected areas. The Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket, headed by President Shammi Silva, met on January 16 and took several decisions for the advancement of the game in the country. Accordingly, the Executive Committee decided to obtain the services of former South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes, who is a specialist fielding coach-former India National Team fast bowling coach Bharat Arun-and former Sri Lanka National Team physiotherapist Alex Kountouri. (Daily Mirror, 18.1.2024)
Following the conclusion of the ODI and T20I series against Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka is gearing up to face Afghanistan in an all-format series starting from February 2. The Afghanistan National Team is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka on January 30 for a series that includes only one Test, 3 ODIs, and 3 T20Is, all set to take place in February 2024. The T20I series against Afghanistan will be hosted at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium (RDICS) in Dambulla. The all-format series will kick off with the Test match at the Colombo SSC ground from February 2nd to 6th. The ODI series is set to begin at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 9, with the second and third ODIs scheduled for February 11 and 14, respectively-all to be played as Day and Night matches. Following that, the T20I series will commence on February 17, with the second and third T20Is scheduled for February 19 and 21. (Daily Mirror, 20.1.2024)
Sri Lanka Cricket announced yesterday that the three-match ODI series involving Afghanistan has been shifted to Pallekelle. The series was initially scheduled to take place at RPS. The board did not provide a reason for the shift. The Afghans will arrive in the island on the 30th of January. They will start off the tour with a one-off Test match at Sinhalese Sports Club grounds. This will be the first Test between the countries and will be played from 2nd February to 6th. The ODIs will take place on the 9th, 11th and 14th of February at Pallekelle. The T20 International series will be played in Dambulla on the 17th, 19th and 21st of February. This is a busy year for the national cricket team. Sri Lanka already played a white ball series against Zimbabwe and will travel to Bangladesh later this month for a multi-format tour that includes two Tests, three ODIs and three T-20 Internationals. The T-20 World Cup is scheduled for June in the West Indies and Caribbean. Sri Lanka will then host India for three ODIs and three T-20s in July. The Test team will be in England for three Tests in August and September. On return home, Sri Lanka will play two Tests against New Zealand while West Indies will be coming to Colombo to play three ODIs and three T-20 Internationals. Then in November, New Zealand will come here again for the white ball leg of the tour which consists of three ODIs and three T-20 Internationals. Sri Lanka will be in South Africa for Christmas and will play two Tests and for the new year will travel to New Zealand where they will play three ODIs and three T-20 Internationals, by Rex Clementine. (Daily Island, 24.1.2024)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board has yesterday lifted the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) with immediate effect. SLC was suspended in November for being in serious breach of its obligations as an ICC Member, in particular, the requirement to manage its affairs autonomously and ensure that there is no Government interference in the governance, regulation and/or administration of cricket in Sri Lanka. The Board has been monitoring the situation since the suspension and are now satisfied that SLC is no longer in breach of membership obligations. (Financial Times, 29.1.2024)
Sri Lanka test squad comprising 16 players have been picked by the National Selection Committee headed by Upul Tharanga and this squad is subject to approval by the Sports Minister. The squad is led by new captain Dhananjaya de Silva while experienced players Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal the three former skippers are also included in the squad . Both Karunaratne and, Mathews hit centuries at last NSL game while skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and youngster Kamindu Mendis who also hit centuries are in good form. Kusal Mendis also hit fine knock of 80 to ensure his place and was named as deputy Skipper. Nishan Madushka and Sadeera Samarawickrama the wicket keeper batsmen have found places while opener Pathum Nissanka couldn’t find a place as he is not in good form. However Lahiru Udara the NCC wicket keeper batsman got a chance in the squad with his form while two young pacemen Milan Ratnayake and Chamika Gunasekara are also in the squad. Both Ratnayake and Gunasekara were among the wickets recently. Pacemen Asitha Fernando,Vishwa Fernando and Kasun Rajitha retained their places while two regular spinners Prabath Jayasuriya the leggie and off spinner Ramesh Mendis are in the squad and Lasith Embuldeniya and Akila Dhananjaya couldn’t find a place All these selections are based on their recent performance and the squad will commence their National training from today at High Performance Unit at R.Premadasa International cricket stadium and SSC grounds. The head coach Chris Silverwood,batting coach Thilina Kandambi, Assistant coach Naveed Nawaz and spin bowling coach Piyal Wijetunga, fielding coach Upul Chandana are busy with the National players. Mahela Jayawardena is the coaching Consaltant. The Afghanistan match will be the first time the two sides are facing each other in the longer format of the game, with Sri Lanka becoming Afghanistan’s sixth opponent in Test cricket. The one and only test match will commence on February 2 at SSC grounds. Afghanistan test squad also will arrive tomorrow Sri Lanka Probable test cricket Squad (subject to approval by the sports Minister): Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Kusal Mendis (V.capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Sadeera Samarawickrema, Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis, Lahiru Udara, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Ramesh Mendis, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Gunasekara, Milan Ratnayake. (Daily News, 30.1.2024)
