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Kusal Perera likely to miss Afghanistan series due to hamstring injury

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Afghanistan tour of Sri Lanka 2023

Availability to be decided after scans

Wanindu Hasaranga picks up a knee injury during IPL

Dimuth Karunaratne added to the preliminary squad as an injury cover

Dashing batter Kusal Janith Perera is likely to miss the forthcoming Afghanistan ODI series after he picked up a hamstring injury during training.

His availability is on the line, as a decision on his availability for the series will be taken next week after he undergoes scans for his hamstring injury, sources at SLC revealed.

“KJP’s availability for the Afghanistan tour will be decided next week after undergoing scans for his hamstring injury. For now, he is likely to miss the series”, the source added.

Kusal Perera made his first appearance in international cricket following 16 months of recovery from a shoulder injury last month during the three-match T20 series against the Kiwis.

He made a strong comeback to competitive cricket with knocks of 53*, 35 and 35 against the Black Caps to prove his return in style. Frequent injuries have dealt a big blow to his career. However, this time around his injury seems to be a minor one from which hopefully he will recover within 1-2 weeks.

It is learnt, in order to manage his workload, he is likely to be rested for the Afghanistan Series and might consider him as a potential option for the ODI World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe in June and July.

The 32-year-old left-hander has already played 61 T-20 and 107 ODI’s and his vast experience has always been an added strength to the Sri Lanka white ball team. The hard-hitting stroke maker has the ability to accelerate the innings while occasionally keeping wickets.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has been dealt another major blow with Wanindu Hasaranga picking up an injury during the ongoing India Premier League (IPL) on his right knee.

Though Wanindu is still in India fulfilling his IPL contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore, the Sri Lanka Cricket board is yet to get a full update on his injury, which they hope to get within the next 2-3 days after which they will decide.

Earlier, certain media reported that Pathum Nissanka had injury concerns, but it is learnt that the 25-year-old has now fully recovered and is available for the upcoming series.

Dimuth Karunaratne added to the preliminary squad

In a major twist, red ball skipper Dimuth Karunaratne has been included in the preliminary squad for the World Cup qualification tournament and the Afghanistan team’s tour to Sri Lanka as injury cover.

The Sri Lankan selection committee recently named a preliminary squad for the one-day World Cup qualification tournament in Zimbabwe next month. Current Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne was not named in the thirty-man one-day squad.

However, reliable sources stated that due to injury concerns, Dimuth’s name had been included in the ODI squad again.

The last time Dimuth represented Sri Lanka in an ODI was in 2020 and was the captain of the national team.

උදරයේ ආබාධයක් හේතුවෙන් කුසල් පෙරේරාට ඇෆ්ගනිස්තාන තරගාවලිය අහිමි වීමට ඉඩ තිබේ

2023 ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ඇෆ්ගනිස්ථාන සංචාරය

තිබේද යන්න ස්කෑන් කිරීමෙන් පසුව තීරණය කළ යුතුය

IPL තරඟය අතරතුර වනිඳු හසරංග දණහිසේ ආබාධයකට ලක්වෙයි

දිමුත් කරුණාරත්න ආබාධ ආවරණයක් ලෙස මූලික සංචිතයට එක් කළේය

පුහුණුවීම් අතරතුර මස්පිඩුවල ආබාධයකට ලක්වීම හේතුවෙන් දක්ෂ පිතිකරු කුසල් ජනිත් පෙරේරාට එළඹෙන ඇෆ්ගනිස්ථාන එක්දින තරගාවලිය අහිමිවීමට බොහෝ දුරට ඉඩ තිබේ.

ඔහුගේ මස්පිඩු ආබාධය සඳහා ස්කෑන් පරීක්ෂණයකට භාජනය කිරීමෙන් පසු ඔහු තරඟාවලිය සඳහා ලබා ගත හැකිද යන්න පිළිබඳ තීරණයක් ලබන සතියේ ගනු ඇති බැවින් ඔහුගේ පැමිණීමේ හැකියාව පවතින බව ශ්‍රී ලංකා ක්‍රිකට් ආරංචි මාර්ග අනාවරණය කළේය.

“KJP ඇෆ්ගනිස්තාන සංචාරය සඳහා ලබා ගත හැකි ද යන්න තීරණය කරනු ලබන්නේ ඔහුගේ මස්පිඩු ආබාධය සඳහා ස්කෑන් පරීක්ෂණයකට භාජනය කිරීමෙන් පසුවය. මේ වන විට ඔහුට මාලාව මග හැරීමට බොහෝ දුරට ඉඩ තිබේ”, මූලාශ්‍රය වැඩිදුරටත් පැවසීය.

කුසල් පෙරේරා සිය පළමු ජාත්‍යන්තර ක්‍රිකට් පිටියට පිවිසියේ පසුගිය මාසයේ කිවීස් පිලට එරෙහිව පැවැති තරග තුනකින් සමන්විත විස්සයි20 තරගාවලියේදී උරහිසේ ආබාධයකට ලක්ව මාස 16කට පසුව සුවය ලැබීමෙන් පසුවය.

බ්ලැක් කැප්ස් කණ්ඩායමට එරෙහිව ලකුණු 53*, 35 සහ 35 දවා ගනිමින් ඔහු තරඟකාරී ක්‍රිකට් වෙත ප්‍රබල පුනරුත්ථාපනයක් සිදු කළේය. නිරන්තර ආබාධ ඔහුගේ වෘත්තීය ජීවිතයට විශාල පහරක් එල්ල කර ඇත. කෙසේ වෙතත්, මෙවර ඔහුගේ ආබාධය සුළු එකක් වන අතර, සති 1-2 කින් ඔහු සුව වනු ඇතැයි අපේක්ෂා කෙරේ.

ඔහුගේ කාර්ය භාරය කළමනාකරණය කිරීම සඳහා, ඔහු ඇෆ්ගනිස්ථාන තරඟාවලිය සඳහා විවේක ගැනීමට ඉඩ ඇති අතර, ජුනි සහ ජූලි මාසවලදී සිම්බාබ්වේ හි පැවැත්වෙන එක්දින ලෝක කුසලාන සුදුසුකම් ලැබීමේ තරඟ සඳහා විභව විකල්පයක් ලෙස ඔහු සලකා බැලිය හැකිය.

32 හැවිරිදි වමත් පිතිකරුවා මේ වන විටත් විස්සයි20 තරග 61කට සහ එක්දින තරග 107කට ක්‍රීඩා කර ඇති අතර ඔහුගේ අතිවිශාල අත්දැකීම් ශ්‍රී ලංකා වයිට්බෝල් කණ්ඩායමට සෑම විටම අමතර ශක්තියක් වී ඇත. දැඩි පහරක් එල්ල කරන පහර සාදන්නාට ඉඳහිට කඩුලු දවා ගනිමින් ඉනිම වේගවත් කිරීමේ හැකියාව ඇත.

මේ අතර, දැනට පැවැත්වෙන ඉන්දීය ප්‍රිමියර් ලීග් (IPL) තරගාවලිය අතරතුර වනිඳු හසරංගගේ දකුණු දණහිසේ ආබාධයකට ලක්වීමත් සමඟ ශ්‍රී ලංකාවට තවත් විශාල පහරක් එල්ල වී තිබේ.

වනිඳු රෝයල් චැලෙන්ජර්ස් බැංගලෝර් සමඟ IPL ගිවිසුම ඉටු කරමින් තවමත් ඉන්දියාවේ සිටියද, ශ්‍රී ලංකා ක්‍රිකට් පාලක මණ්ඩලය ඔහුගේ ආබාධය පිළිබඳව තවමත් සම්පූර්ණ යාවත්කාලීනයක් ලබාගෙන නොමැති අතර, ඔවුන් ඉදිරි දින 2-3 තුළ එය ලබා ගැනීමට බලාපොරොත්තු වන අතර පසුව ඔවුන් තීරණය කරනු ඇත.

පැතුම් නිශ්ශංක ආබාධයකට ලක්ව ඇති බවට මීට පෙර ඇතැම් මාධ්‍ය වාර්තා කළ නමුත් 25 හැවිරිදි ඔහු මේ වන විට සම්පූර්ණයෙන් සුවය ලබා ඉදිරි තරග මාලාවට සහභාගි වී සිටින බව දැනගන්නට ඇත.

දිමුත් කරුණාරත්න මූලික සංචිතයට එක් කළේය

ප්‍රධාන පෙරළියක් ලෙස රතු පන්දු නායක දිමුත් කරුණාරත්න ආබාධ ආවරණයක් ලෙස ලෝක කුසලාන සුදුසුකම් ලැබීමේ තරගාවලියේ සහ ඇෆ්ගනිස්ථාන කණ්ඩායමේ ශ්‍රී ලංකා සංචාරයේ මූලික සංචිතයට ඇතුළත් කර තිබේ.

ලබන මාසයේ සිම්බාබ්වේ හිදී පැවැත්වෙන එක්දින ලෝක කුසලාන සුදුසුකම් ලැබීමේ තරගාවලිය සඳහා ශ්‍රී ලංකා තේරීම් කමිටුව විසින් මූලික සංචිතයක් පසුගියදා නම් කරන ලදී. තිස් දෙනෙකුගෙන් යුත් එක්දින සංචිතයට වත්මන් ටෙස්ට් නායක දිමුත් කරුණාරත්න නම් කර නැහැ.

කෙසේ වෙතත්, විශ්වාස කටයුතු ආරංචි මාර්ග සඳහන් කළේ ආබාධ තත්ත්වය හේතුවෙන් දිමුත්ගේ නම නැවතත් එක්දින සංචිතයට ඇතුළත් කර ඇති බවයි.

දිමුත් අවසන් වරට ශ්‍රී ලංකාව එක්දින තරගයක් නියෝජනය කළේ 2020 දී වන අතර ජාතික කණ්ඩායමේ නායකයා විය.

தொடை காயம் காரணமாக குசல் பெரேரா ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் தொடரை இழக்க வாய்ப்புள்ளது

இலங்கைக்கான ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் சுற்றுப்பயணம் 2023

ஸ்கேன் செய்த பிறகு கிடைக்கும் தன்மையை முடிவு செய்ய வேண்டும்

ஐபிஎல் போட்டியின் போது வனிந்து ஹசரங்க முழங்காலில் காயம் அடைந்தார்

திமுத் கருணாரத்ன காயம் மறைப்பாக ஆரம்ப அணியில் சேர்க்கப்பட்டார்

பயிற்சியின் போது தொடை தசையில் ஏற்பட்ட காயம் காரணமாக, டாஷிங் பேட்டர் குசல் ஜனித் பெரேரா, ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் ஒருநாள் தொடரை இழக்க வாய்ப்புள்ளது.

அவரது தொடை எலும்பு காயத்திற்கு ஸ்கேன் செய்யப்பட்ட பிறகு அடுத்த வாரம் தொடரில் அவர் கிடைப்பது குறித்து முடிவு எடுக்கப்படும் என SLC இன் வட்டாரங்கள் தெரிவித்தன.

“கேஜேபி ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் சுற்றுப்பயணத்தில் அவரது தொடை எலும்பு காயத்திற்கு ஸ்கேன் செய்த பிறகு அடுத்த வாரம் முடிவு செய்யப்படும். இப்போதைக்கு, அவர் தொடரை இழக்க வாய்ப்புள்ளது” என்று அந்த வட்டாரம் மேலும் கூறியது.

குசல் பெரேரா கடந்த மாதம் கிவிஸுக்கு எதிரான மூன்று போட்டிகள் கொண்ட டி20 தொடரின் போது தோள்பட்டை காயத்திலிருந்து 16 மாதங்கள் குணமடைந்ததைத் தொடர்ந்து சர்வதேச கிரிக்கெட்டில் தனது முதல் தோற்றத்தை வெளிப்படுத்தினார்.

அவர் பிளாக் கேப்ஸுக்கு எதிராக 53*, 35 மற்றும் 35 ரன்களுடன் போட்டி கிரிக்கெட்டுக்கு வலுவான மறுபிரவேசம் செய்தார். அடிக்கடி ஏற்படும் காயங்கள் அவரது கேரியருக்கு பெரும் அடியாக அமைந்தது. இருப்பினும், இந்த நேரத்தில் அவரது காயம் சிறியதாகத் தெரிகிறது, அதில் இருந்து அவர் 1-2 வாரங்களுக்குள் குணமடைவார் என்று நம்புகிறேன்.

அவரது பணிச்சுமையை நிர்வகிப்பதற்காக, ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் தொடரில் அவருக்கு ஓய்வு அளிக்கப்படலாம் என்றும், ஜூன் மற்றும் ஜூலை மாதங்களில் ஜிம்பாப்வேயில் நடைபெறவுள்ள ஒருநாள் உலகக் கோப்பை தகுதிச் சுற்றுப் போட்டிகளுக்கு அவரை ஒரு சாத்தியமான தேர்வாகக் கருதலாம் என்றும் அறியப்படுகிறது.

32 வயதான இடது கை ஆட்டக்காரர் ஏற்கனவே 61 T-20 மற்றும் 107 ODI போட்டிகளில் விளையாடியுள்ளார் மற்றும் அவரது பரந்த அனுபவம் எப்போதும் இலங்கை வெள்ளை பந்து அணிக்கு கூடுதல் பலமாக உள்ளது. கடின அடிக்கும் ஸ்ட்ரோக் தயாரிப்பாளருக்கு எப்போதாவது விக்கெட் கீப்பிங் செய்யும் போது இன்னிங்ஸை விரைவுபடுத்தும் திறன் உள்ளது.

இதற்கிடையில், நடந்து வரும் இந்திய பிரீமியர் லீக் (ஐபிஎல்) போட்டியின் போது வனிந்து ஹசரங்காவின் வலது முழங்காலில் காயம் ஏற்பட்டதால் இலங்கைக்கு மற்றொரு பெரிய அடி ஏற்பட்டது.

வனிந்து ராயல் சேலஞ்சர்ஸ் பெங்களூரு உடனான தனது ஐபிஎல் ஒப்பந்தத்தை நிறைவேற்றி இன்னும் இந்தியாவில் இருக்கிறார் என்றாலும், இலங்கை கிரிக்கெட் வாரியம் அவரது காயம் குறித்து இன்னும் முழு புதுப்பிப்பைப் பெறவில்லை, அடுத்த 2-3 நாட்களுக்குள் அவர்கள் முடிவு செய்வார்கள் என்று அவர்கள் நம்புகிறார்கள்.

முன்னதாக, பாதம் நிஸ்ஸங்கவுக்கு காயம் இருப்பதாக சில ஊடகங்கள் செய்தி வெளியிட்டன, ஆனால் 25 வயதான அவர் தற்போது முழுமையாக குணமடைந்து வரவிருக்கும் தொடருக்கு தயாராக இருக்கிறார்.

திமுத் கருணாரத்ன முதற்கட்ட அணியில் சேர்க்கப்பட்டார்

ஒரு முக்கிய திருப்பமாக, சிவப்பு பந்து கேப்டன் திமுத் கருணாரத்ன உலகக் கோப்பை தகுதிப் போட்டிக்கான ஆரம்ப அணியிலும், காயம் மறைப்பாக ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் அணியின் இலங்கை சுற்றுப்பயணத்திலும் சேர்க்கப்பட்டுள்ளார்.

அடுத்த மாதம் ஜிம்பாப்வேயில் நடைபெறவுள்ள ஒரு நாள் உலகக் கோப்பை தகுதிச் சுற்றுப் போட்டிக்கான பூர்வாங்க அணியை இலங்கை தேர்வுக் குழு சமீபத்தில் அறிவித்தது. முப்பது பேர் கொண்ட ஒருநாள் அணியில் தற்போதைய டெஸ்ட் கேப்டன் திமுத் கருணாரத்ன இடம் பெறவில்லை.

எனினும், காயம் காரணமாக திமுத்தின் பெயர் மீண்டும் ஒருநாள் அணியில் சேர்க்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாக நம்பகமான வட்டாரங்கள் தெரிவித்தன.

கடைசியாக 2020 ஆம் ஆண்டு ஒருநாள் போட்டியில் இலங்கையைப் பிரதிநிதித்துவப்படுத்திய திமுத், தேசிய அணியின் தலைவராக இருந்தார்.

Football

Sri Lanka Women Finish Qualifiers with 0 Goals, 20 Conceded – Who Will Take Responsibility?

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Colombo, July 3 – Sri Lanka Women’s National Football Team wrapped up their AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers campaign with a third straight defeat — a 2-0 loss to Laos — confirming their position at the bottom of Group F, with 0 wins, 0 goals scored, and 18 conceded in just three games.

But beyond the scorelines lies a far more serious issue: a complete collapse of women’s football development in Sri Lanka. And this time, the blame does not lie on one individual — but on a system that has failed the sport, from top to bottom.

Match-by-Match Recap

Match 1: Sri Lanka 0 – 10 Uzbekistan

  • Possession: 30%
  • Shots on Target: 0
  • xG: 0.0 vs Uzbekistan’s 3.60
  • A game that exposed a lack of preparation, structure, and fitness from the very start.

Match 2: Sri Lanka 0 – 8 Nepal

  • Possession: 50%
  • Defensive errors gifted goals, including a hat-trick by Sabitra Bhandari.
  • xG: Nepal 3.76 vs Sri Lanka 0.60
  • Tactical breakdown: Midfield collapsed under pressure, backline failed to close space.

Match 3: Sri Lanka 0 – 2 Laos

  • Possession: 50%
  • Shots on Target: 5
  • xG: 2.56 (Laos) vs 1.08 (Sri Lanka)
  • A more balanced performance, but defensive lapses in the 73rd and 90+2 minutes led to defeat. Sri Lanka couldn’t convert chances despite their best game statistically.

Final Group Standings – Group F

TeamMPGFGAGDPoints
🇳🇵 Nepal2170+176
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan2170+176
🇱🇦 Laos2216-140
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka3020-200

Tactical Issues Across All Matches

  • No clear formation or transition play.
  • Lack of defensive coordination — players failed to track runners, especially on the flanks.
  • No attacking identity — only 1.08 xG across three games.
  • In-game management absent — few substitutions or tactical shifts despite being outplayed.

While public criticism often targets the President of the Football Federation, this decline in women’s football runs deeper:

Who Is Accountable? Not Just the President

Women’s Football Committee:

  • Failed to organize any domestic tournament in recent years.
  • Selected the squad via open trials, with no league performance data to back selections.
  • No consistent training camps or fitness programs.

Executive Committee:

  • Remains silent on the recurring failures.
  • No inquiries, reviews, or structural reforms have followed Sri Lanka’s repeated humiliations — including the U20 Women’s SAFF defeat earlier this year.

Technical & Development Staff:

  • No tactical framework or youth development.
  • No modern coaching methods or international exposure for players.

The Bigger Problem: Silence and Stagnation

Sri Lanka is not just losing matches — it’s losing direction. The current state of women’s football is not the result of one bad campaign. It’s the product of years of neglect, political appointments, and a failure to treat women’s football with equal priority.

Even now, there is no explanation from the Executive Committee on how the women’s team was prepared or what plans exist for recovery.

Time for a Reset, Not Excuses

If Sri Lanka is serious about competing in international football, the following must be addressed:

  • ✅ A national women’s league
  • ✅ Provincial and school-level competitions
  • ✅ Professional coaching staff and structured fitness programs
  • ✅ Regular international friendlies and camps
  • ✅ Transparent selection processes based on performance, not politics

🔚 Conclusion

Sri Lanka’s 2026 AFC campaign should not just be remembered for the scorelines — but as a call for change. It is time for every stakeholder — from the Women’s Committee to the Executive — to reflect, respond, and rebuild.

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Sri Lanka Set to Face UAE in Crucial Rugby Clash Tomorrow in Colombo

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The Sri Lanka national rugby team will lock horns with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a much-anticipated international rugby encounter set to take place today (July 4) at the iconic Racecourse Ground, Colombo.

As part of their final preparations, the Sri Lankan team held an intensive training session today under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff. The team looked sharp, focused, and ready to bring their A-game to home soil.

This clash promises to be a key test for the Tuskers as they look to strengthen their footing in the regional rugby scene and gain momentum ahead of upcoming international competitions. UAE, a rising force in Asian rugby, will also be eyeing a big performance away from home.

Both teams are expected to field strong lineups, and the match is anticipated to draw significant interest from local fans eager to witness top-tier rugby action.

📍 Match Info
🗓️ Date: July 4, 2025
📍 Venue: Racecourse Rugby Grounds, Colombo
🕒 Kick-off: TBA

Stay tuned for live updates, photos, and post-match coverage on Sri Lankan Sports TV.

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Football

Sri Lanka Women Crushed 8-0 by Nepal in AFC Qualifiers – Tactical Collapse Raises Alarm

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Colombo, July 2 – Sri Lanka Women’s National Football Team suffered another brutal defeat in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, going down 8-0 to a confident and clinical Nepalese side. Coming just days after a 10-0 hammering by Uzbekistan, this latest loss highlights deeper tactical, technical, and structural issues within Sri Lanka’s women’s football system.

Full-Time Score: Sri Lanka 0 – 8 Nepal

Half-Time: 0 – 4
Venue: Group F – AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers

Key Match Statistics

StatSri Lanka WomenNepal Women
Possession50%50%
Total Shots426
Shots on Target318
Shots off Target18
Expected Goals (xG)0.603.76
Corners014
Fouls46
Cards00
Offsides03

Tactical Breakdown – Why Sri Lanka Lost 8-0

Despite the possession being even at 50%, Sri Lanka was thoroughly outplayed. This is a classic case where possession stats mislead the reality on the pitch.

1. Poor Defensive Organization

  • Sri Lanka conceded 14 corners and 18 shots on target, indicating that Nepal constantly penetrated both flanks and delivered into the box unchallenged.
  • There was no compact defensive line, and Nepal exploited space behind Sri Lanka’s fullbacks repeatedly.

2. Ineffective Midfield Structure

  • While Sri Lanka held possession equally, it was largely passive and in non-threatening zones.
  • Nepal, on the other hand, converted their possession into 3.76 xG, showing how effective and vertical their transitions were.

3. Repeated Failures in Closing Down Key Players

  • Sabitra Bhandari scored a hat-trick within 26 minutes (14’, 36’, 40’) and was left unmarked multiple times.
  • Nepal’s attackers were given space and time to shoot – evident from the 18 shots on target.

4. No Offensive Threat

  • Sri Lanka managed only 4 shots in the entire game, with an xG of just 0.60.
  • With no corners and no real pressing, the team offered nothing going forward, allowing Nepal to push numbers up comfortably.

Back-to-Back Heavy Losses: Structural Failures Exposed

This defeat comes after a 10-0 loss to Uzbekistan, meaning Sri Lanka has now conceded 18 goals in two matches without scoring once.

This isn’t just a reflection of players’ on-field performance — it’s a glaring indictment of:

  • FFSL’s failure to conduct any women’s football league in years
  • A rushed team selection based on a short trial, without competitive match practice
  • No structured coaching program or international exposure
  • Lack of scouting, fitness programs, and tactical planning

Nepal, though not an Asian powerhouse, had better coaching structure, player chemistry, and clear tactics, which led to their dominance.

What’s Next for Sri Lanka?

If the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) and the Ministry of Sports continue to ignore these warning signs, Sri Lanka risks becoming irrelevant in women’s football on the Asian stage.

What’s needed:

  • ✅ A proper national women’s league
  • ✅ Regular youth-level competitions and scouting
  • ✅ Appointing qualified coaching staff with modern tactical knowledge
  • ✅ Consistent international exposure for players

Conclusion

An 8-0 defeat to Nepal isn’t just a bad result — it’s a mirror held up to a broken system. Unless real change is implemented beyond symbolic participation, these results will become Sri Lanka’s norm in women’s football.

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