SRI LANKA CRICKET NEWS
(JULY 2026)
Compiled by Victor Melder
India will tour Sri Lanka in August 2026 for a two-match Test series as part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–2027 cycle, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced today. According to an SLC media release, the opening Test will be played at the Galle International Cricket Stadium from August 15 to 19, while the second Test will take place at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo from August 23 to 27. Both matches are scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. The series will mark India’s first Test tour of Sri Lanka under the current World Test Championship cycle. Schedule: First Test: August 15–19 – Galle International Cricket Stadium, Galle Second Test: August 23–27 – Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo (Newswire, 2.7.2026)
The Second test between the touring Sri Lankans and the West Indies, played at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North South, Antigua, ended in a draw. Scores:
Sri Lanka, 1st Innings – 549/9 dec (Udara 188, Dimutha 92, Kamindu Mendis 84, Kusal Mendis 69, Seales 2/98, S. Joseph 2/98, Hodge 1/26)
West Indies, 1st Innings – 499 (Greaves 180, Hope 112, Campbell 72,A. Fernando 5/130, Jayasuriya 3/131)
Sri Lanka, 2nd Innings – 251/9 dec( Chandimal 71, Kamundu Mendis 44, de Silva 34, A. Joseph 2/44, Phillip 1/27)
West Indies, 2nd Innings – 109/0 ( Campbell 51no, King 51no)
The West Indies won the 2-match series 1-0
Points: Sri Lanka 4, West Indies 4.
Player of the Match: Justin Greaves (West Indies)
Player of the Series: Justin Greaves (West Indies)
West Indie have been fined ten percent of their match fee and penalised two World Test Championship (WTC) points for maintaining a slow over-rate in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Antigua. Match referee Javagal Srinath imposed the sanction after the hosts were found to be two overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration. As per to the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, players are fined five percent of their match fee for each over their team fails to bowl within the allotted time, with the maximum penalty capped at 50 percent of the match fee. Additionally, a side is penalised one point in the WTC points table for each over short as per the ICC WTC playing conditions. Captain Roston Chase pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing. West Indies bowled 188.3 overs across both innings and secured a draw after conceding a 50-run deficit in the first innings. Having won the first Test at the same venue, by an innings and 217 runs, the result was enough to complete a 1-0 series win. They stand ninth on the WTC table with 18 points, after the deduction, with one win, two draws and seven losses in ten games.(Cricinfo, 11.7.2026)
Sri Lanka’s Cricket’s (SLC) former administration spent millions of rupees intended for the game’s development on legal fees and related disbursements, amounting to more than Rs. 681mn in just three years, official documents show. Fees of Rs. 681,171,261.89 were disbursed between 2023 and 2025, payment vouchers seen by The Sunday Times reveal. The seven-year Shammi Silva administration was forced out by the current political leadership following a string of poor on-field performances and allegations of financial mismanagement. Disregarding mounting public censure, the committee had spent millions on legal representation in an apparent effort to defend its increasingly embattled position and deteriorating public image. The numbers show a cricket regime locked in confrontation on multiple fronts—with the Ministry of Sports, media institutions and journalists, rival factions and commercial contracts. It was during this period that SLC engaged in a legal battle with the then Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe, incurring a massive bill. Inclusive of writ applications, High Court proceedings and defamation actions, the Board’s legal expenditure on matters connected to Ranasinghe reached roughly Rs. 220mn. Highly critical of the Silva’s SLC administration, Ranasinghe went so far as to sack the committee, leading to a legal battle in 2023. The Appeal Court case between Silva and Ranasinghe (CA Writ 685/2023) involved some of Sri Lanka’s most senior counsel and SLC incurred over Rs. 47mn in fees. Separately, the writ application filed by Raveen Wickremaratne, a former SLC Vice President, against Minister Ranasinghe (CA Writ 717/2023) cost the Board Rs. 18.1mn. Two long-running administrative challenges—CA Writ 521/2023 and CA Writ 571/2023 (SLC vs. Minister of Sports)—cost a combined total of approximately Rs. 30.4mn in professional fees and appearance charges during the three years. A new challenge cropped up in 2025 via Supreme Court case SC/FR/103/2025—K. Mathivanan vs SLC. This became the year’s highest legal expense. Ironically, legal spending that year (at around Rs. 166mn) was lower than the two preceding years. The Mathivanan case produced a legal bill of Rs. 31.9mn. On a single reporting date in October 2025, SLC cleared more than Rs. 25mn in fees connected to this single fundamental rights case, for a roster of senior lawyers. Top-tier fees included Rs. 5mn on one senior counsel; and Rs. 3mn each for four others. Two other counsel were paid Rs. 2.4mn and Rs. 1.5mn, respectively. The Supreme Court threw out the case. SLC’s legal bill shows a staggering Rs. 264.6mn in 2023, followed by Rs. 250.5mn in 2024, while it has seen a reduction in 2025, spending Rs.166mn. The documents show SLC has spent Rs. 81.89mn on defamation cases against media institutions and journalists. The current SLC administration, headed by Eran Wickremaratne, has however withdrawn these cases. A significant share of SLC’s legal spending went towards commercial tenders and international tax matters. Cross-border tax issues added another layer. The Indian tax dispute connected to the Nidahas Trophy required numerous outside counsel. Accordingly, a legal firm was paid over Rs. 6.17mn in May 2024 while one legal advisor received Rs. 2.35mn earlier that year to help SLC navigate Indian tax law. (Sunday Times, 12.7.2026)
The Sri Lanka Cricket reforms process has secured additional time from the International Cricket Council, although the ICC remains dissatisfied with the country’s current governance arrangement. The Sri Lanka Cricket reforms process has secured additional time from the International Cricket Council, although the ICC remains dissatisfied with the country’s current governance arrangement. The Cricket Transformation Committee, which now runs Sri Lanka Cricket, believes the ICC has allowed valuable time to complete broad governance changes. However, the committee insists that it wants to relinquish control and return the sport to an elected administration as quickly as possible. CTC Secretary Prakash Schaffter recently attended the ICC Chief Executives’ Meeting in Scotland. He said the message from world cricket’s governing body remained clear. The present interim structure cannot continue indefinitely. Sri Lanka must hold elections at the earliest opportunity, while a new constitution remains central to restoring normal governance. However, Schaffter believes the ICC also recognised the exceptional circumstances that led to the committee’s appointment. He said the global body appeared willing to give Sri Lanka time to complete the reform process instead of immediately imposing tougher sanctions. “They understood where we are coming from,” Schaffter said in an exclusive interview. “The discussions were cordial, constructive and based on understanding rather than confrontation.” (The Morning, 20.7.2026)
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Transformation Committee at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (27) to discuss issues and challenges surrounding the development of cricket in Sri Lanka. According to the President’s Media Division, discussions also focused on the support and contribution the Government could provide towards the continued progress and advancement of cricket in the country. The meeting comes amid continuing governance concerns surrounding Sri Lanka Cricket. Earlier this month, the International Cricket Council (ICC) Board reiterated that SLC would remain barred from representation at ICC Board meetings until further notice, despite acknowledging progress towards drafting a revised constitution. Following its Annual Meetings in Edinburgh, the ICC said elections at SLC should be held “as soon as possible” and decided that the country would remain without representation at ICC Board meetings for the time being. Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage, Presidential Chief of Staff Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Transformation Committee Chairman Eran Wickramaratne and members Roshan Mahanama, Avanthi Colombage, Upul Kumarapperuma, Thushira Radella, Sidath Wettimuny and Dinal Philip attended Monday’s meeting. (Newswire, 27.7.2026)
