SRI LANKA CRICKET NEWS
(DECEMBER 2025)
Compiled by Victor Melder
Pakistan will begin their build-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup with a three-match T20I series in Sri Lanka next year, during early January. The Salman Agha-led side will travel to Dambulla in Sri Lanka, where all three matches will be played on January 7, 9 and 11. The short tour is Pakistan’s first white-ball assignment of the new year, and the PCB said it “will provide the side with valuable match practice ahead of next year’s global event”. Pakistan are playing all their World Cup games in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka have just concluded a three-week tour of Pakistan too, which saw them play three ODIs and a tri-series, with the latter also featuring Zimbabwe. Aside from the T20Is in Sri Lanka, Pakistan also have a three-match home series against Australia in the final week of January, before they return to Sri Lanka for the World Cup, which begins on February 7. Pakistan have been placed in Group A for the World Cup and their group fixtures, played in Colombo, will be against India, Namibia, Netherlands and United States. (Cricinfo) (Daily Island, 4.12.2025)
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has confirmed that floodlight installation at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) will be completed by January 15, ensuring the venue is ready to host matches in next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka will co‑host the tournament with India in February, with SSC named alongside the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium as the three local venues. SSC is scheduled to stage five fixtures, beginning with the Group B clash between the Netherlands and Pakistan on February 7 at 11:00 a.m. The project involves the installation of six floodlight towers at a cost of Rs. 1.8 billion, fully funded by SLC as part of its infrastructure development programme. In addition to the new lighting system, SSC is undergoing further upgrades, including renovations to the main pavilion and the relocation of broadcasting facilities. Pakistan will feature prominently at the ground, playing three of their four first‑round matches at SSC. The venue’s only day‑night fixture, Pakistan vs USA, will also be staged there. The first match requiring the new floodlights will be Oman vs Zimbabwe on February 9, starting at 3:00 p.m. SSC currently accommodates around 10,000 spectators, including those on grass embankments. Officials do not anticipate crowding issues, as Sri Lanka will not play any group‑stage matches at the venue. With the upgrade, Colombo will boast three fully lit cricket venues—SSC, R. Premadasa Stadium, and Colombo Cricket Club—all of which are expected to play key roles when Sri Lanka hosts the 2027 ICC Women’s Champions Trophy. A historic ground, SSC has hosted Test cricket since 1984 and ODIs since 1982, featuring in the 1996 Cricket World Cup and staging the 2000 Under‑19 World Cup final. In recent years, it has been used mainly for Test matches, but officials believe the addition of floodlights will restore SSC as a regular venue for limited‑overs cricket. (Ceylon Today, 7.12.2025)
Fakhar Zaman was found guilty of a breach during the Tri-series final between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee for a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct during the recent Tri-Series final against Sri Lanka. Zaman was found to have breached Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match.” One demerit point has been added to Zaman’s disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period. The incident pertains to the 19th over of Pakistan’s innings, when Zaman had a prolonged argument with on-field umpires regarding a decision that saw him lose his wicket. The sanction was proposed by Reon King of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees. On-field umpires Ahsan Raza, Asif Yaqoob, third umpire Rashid Riaz and fourth umpire Faisal Afridi levelled the charge. Zaman would admit the offence and accept the sanctions, so there was no need for a formal hearing. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 percent of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.The game saw Pakistan clinch the Tri-Series with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the summit clash. ICC (Daily News, 7.12.2025)
Chandika Hathurusinghe has filed fresh legal action against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in the Swiss based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the termination of his contract as Head Coach of the men’s national team in 2019. The latest move revives a long running dispute that began when the Board removed him citing disciplinary concerns and poor on field results. After he was shown the door, Hathurusinghe invoked the arbitration clause in his contract and lodged a claim at CAS. He sought USD 5 million for loss of income, loss of opportunity and injury to his reputation. Before the substantive hearing could begin, SLC raised a preliminary objection. The contract of employment had been signed between Hathurusinghe and SLC, represented by CEO Ashley de Silva, who was also named as a respondent. Yet SLC’s legal team argued that the Board could not be sued in its own name because it was not incorporated through an Act of Parliament. CAS upheld this position and ruled that while SLC could not be cited as a party, Hathurusinghe was free to pursue the matter by naming the individuals who served on the Executive Committee at the time of his dismissal. Following the CAS ruling, SLC sought more than Rs. 30 million in legal costs from Hathurusinghe. CAS threw out that request on the grounds that such a payment could not be made to a body that lacked incorporation under an Act of Parliament. Hathurusinghe had accepted a 36-month contract after SLC enticed him with a package well above market rates in a bid to arrest the decline of the national side. His deal carried a monthly salary of USD 20,000, a USD 10,000 dollar cost of living allowance and several additional benefits that pushed his monthly income beyond USD 40,000. On the field, Sri Lanka won 24 out of 67 international matches under his watch and lost 38. Off the field, disciplinary issues mounted. A one-man inquiry conducted by Justice Lalith Jayasuriya found him guilty on six charges, including failure to prepare the team mentally and physically, creating disharmony, undermining team spirit and conduct unbecoming of a national coach. SLC attempted to negotiate his departure by offering six months of salary. Hathurusinghe rejected the proposal and insisted that the full terms of his contract be honoured..He has now relaunched his case at CAS by naming every member of the Executive Committee who served during the period in question as respondents. He is seeking the full contractual payout amounting to 12 months of salary. Notices have been issued to all Executive Committee members who were in office when the decision to remove him was taken. (Sunday Times, 14.12.2025)
Former Sri Lanka cricketer Pramodya Wickremasinghe has been appointed Chairman of the National Cricket Selection Committee, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports said. The appointment was announced in an official press release issued by the ministry, which confirmed that a new five-member national selection committee has been constituted. According to the ministry, the other members appointed to the committee are Indika de Saram, Tharanga Paranavithana, Vinothan John and Rasanjali de Alwis. The appointments have been made in terms of Section 39-1 of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 and the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2437/24 dated May 21, 2025, the statement said. (Newswire, 16.12.2025)
Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Chief Selector, Pramodya Wickramasinghe, has confirmed that Dasun Shanaka will remain captain of the national T20 team, leading the side at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Shanaka will also captain Sri Lanka in the upcoming bilateral series against Pakistan and England as part of the team’s preparations for the tournament. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, a 25-member preliminary squad has been selected for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with the final squad to be confirmed closer to the event. Sri Lanka T20 Squad: 1. Dasun Shanaka (Captain), 2. Pathum Nissanka, 3. Kusal Mendis, 4. Kamil Mishara, 5. Kusal Perera, 6. Dhananjaya de Silva, 7. Niroshan Dickwella, 8. Janith Liyanage, 9. Charith Asalanka, 10. Kamindu Mendis, 11. Pavan Rathnayake, 12. Sahan Arachchige, 13. Wanindu Hasaranga, 14. Dunith Wellalage, 15. Milan Rathnayake, 16. Nuwan Thushara, 17. Eshan Malinga, 18. Dushmantha Chameera, 19. Pramod Madushan, 20. Matheesha Pathirana, 21. Dilshan Madushanka, 22. Maheesh Theekshana, 23. Dushan Hemantha,, 24. Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, 25. Traveen Mathew. (Daily News, 19.12.2025)
Sri Lanka are currently placed fourth in the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 standings following New Zealand’s 2–0 series victory over the West Indies.The Islanders have made a solid start to the cycle with a 1–0 series win over Bangladesh, holding a points percentage of 66.67. Pathum Nissanka leads the team’s run-scoring charts, while Tharindu Ratnayake is the leading wicket-taker for Sri Lanka so far in the campaign. (Daily Mirror, 23.12.2025)
