News

Revisiting the 2019 World Cup and the league format

Published

3 years ago

September 23, 2023

Editor

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 will follow the same format as the previous edition four years ago, meaning that all 10 teams will face one another.

With a new format set to be introduced in 2027, this will be the final go-around for the 10-team Group Stage which provides 45 entertaining encounters to decide on four semi-finalists.

In 2019, that began with a thrilling clash between England and South Africa at The Oval – the home side getting off to a winning start on their way to a maiden ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup victory.
With every team playing nine matches, the Group Stage lasted six weeks, with ebbs and flows as new contenders emerged.

The beauty of the format meant that a slow start was not necessarily fatal to a team’s chances of progressing.

In 2019, for example, Pakistan started very slowly, winning just one of their opening five matches – earning a 14-run success over eventual champions England at Trent Bridge.

Despite that, Pakistan finished with four successive victories to get to within a whisker of qualification, missing out on the semi-finals on net run-rate.

They finished level on points with runners-up New Zealand and just one point behind England as momentum almost carried them into the semi-finals as the form side.

At the other end of the spectrum, Australia were the first team to clinch a place in the last four, winning six of their first seven matches, the only exception a defeat to India.

India were the next team to book their semi-final spot, beating Bangladesh on their way to leading the Group Stage with seven wins from nine matches.

However, the World Cup is as much about timing your run as being fast starters, and it was the hosts and the Kiwis who found their best form come semi-final time.

With every team having had their chance to take on the world’s best, the knock-out stages were all about peaking on the day.

First up were India and New Zealand, who faced off over two days at Old Trafford as the weather played its part in proceedings.

It went down to the wire, but some stunning fielding from Martin Guptill to remove MS Dhoni in the penultimate over helped the Black Caps to an 18-run victory.

The following day, England were rather more emphatic in avenging their Group Stage loss to Australia, powering to an eight-wicket win to earn a place in the final for the first time since 1992.

Those results meant that the final would crown a new champion for the first time in more than two decades since Sri Lanka had claimed victory as one of the hosts in 1996.

England went onto emulate the Sri Lankans, famously doing so in the most dramatic circumstances at Lord’s.

New Zealand made 241 for eight batting first, before England matched that total, bowled out for 241 in reply to set up a Super Over.

Again, the teams matched each other blow for blow in the Super Over, each scoring 15 runs, as England were crowned champions on boundaries scored.

Victors in the first game, champions in the last, England showed just how to manage this Cricket World Cup format on their way to lifting the trophy.

The question now is, will they be able to repeat the feat or will someone else prove to be the masters of the 10-team Group Stage set-up?

Cricket

LPL 2026 Player Draft Set for June 1 in Colombo

Published

1 day ago

May 29, 2026

Editor

The much-anticipated Player Draft for the sixth edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 is scheduled to take place on June 1 in Colombo, marking a significant milestone ahead of Sri Lanka’s premier domestic T20 tournament.

A total of 421 cricketers including 179 Sri Lankan players and 242 overseas players will be available for selection during the draft process. The local player pool will consist of national representatives, domestic performers, and emerging talents, offering franchises a wide range of options as they finalize their squads for the upcoming season.

The draft will be conducted across several player categories, namely Platinum, Gold, Classic, Emerging, and Associate Stars.

Among the Sri Lankan contingent, 17 players have been listed in the Platinum category, while 34 players fall under Gold, 80 under Classic, and 48 under Emerging.

The overseas player lineup includes 31 Platinum players, 64 Gold players, 99 Classic players, and 48 players in the Associate Stars category.

The official draft proceedings will commence at 1.30 p.m. and are expected to draw the participation of all franchise owners and team management representatives.

Hon. Sunil Kumara Gamage, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, will attend the event as the Chief Guest.

Several key cricket administrators and officials are also expected to be present, including Mr. Eran Wickramaratne, Chairman of the Cricket Transformation Committee (CTC), members of the Transformation Committee, Mr. Ashley De Silva, Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Cricket, and Mr. Samantha Dodanwela, Tournament Director of the Lanka Premier League.

The LPL has continued to grow in stature since its inception, providing a competitive platform for local talent while attracting international stars to Sri Lanka’s premier T20 competition.

Athletics

Tarushi Abisheka Wins Gold for Sri Lanka at Asian Under-20 Championships

Published

1 day ago

May 29, 2026

Editor

Sri Lanka’s rising middle-distance runner Tarushi Abisheka delivered an outstanding performance to claim the gold medal in the girls’ 1500 metres event at the Asian Under-20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong on Thursday.

Abisheka crossed the finish line in 4 minutes and 31.41 seconds, securing first place ahead of Iran’s Maryam Baluoutaki, who finished second, while South Korea’s Song Dawson claimed the bronze medal.

The young Sri Lankan athlete is also competing in the 800m event at the continental championship, continuing to showcase her talent on the international stage.

The Asian Under-20 Athletics Championships has attracted competitors from 40 countries, with athletes taking part in 46 events during the tournament.

Sri Lanka has fielded a 22-member team for the competition, consisting of 15 male athletes and seven female athletes.

News

India snap Sri Lanka winning streak

Published

2 days ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Sri Lanka’s impressive winning streak at the FIBA U-18 Asia Cup SABA Qualifiers came to an end yesterday as they suffered a hard-fought 72-77 defeat against a strong Indian side at the Sugathadasa Stadium.

Coming into the match with two consecutive victories, the hosts displayed tremendous spirit and determination throughout the contest. Sri Lanka made an energetic start and matched the taller and more experienced Indian outfit in every department during the opening stages of the game.

The home team enjoyed an excellent first half and went into the breather with a narrow 43-40 lead after producing some attractive attacking basketball. Sri Lanka’s quick passing, aggressive drives to the basket and accurate shooting kept the Indian defence under constant pressure. The local cagers also showed great discipline in defence, forcing several turnovers and capitalising on fast-break opportunities.

However, India bounced back strongly after halftime with improved defensive work and better control in the final two quarters. Their experience and physical advantage gradually helped them regain momentum as they edged ahead during the decisive stages of the encounter.

Despite trailing in the closing minutes, Sri Lanka continued to fight bravely and reduced the margin with some spirited play. The hosts received strong support from the spectators who gathered at the stadium to cheer the young team.

India eventually held their nerve to secure a five-point victory and remain one of the strongest contenders in the tournament. Although Sri Lanka ended on the losing side, the performance of the young players earned praise for their fighting spirit and determination against a formidable opponent.