Cricket

Asalanka Defends Colombo Pitch After England’s Criticism

Published

1 month ago

January 27, 2026

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Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka has played down criticism of the pitch used for the second One-Day International against England in Colombo, insisting that the surface was suitable for ODI cricket despite concerns raised by visiting players.

England levelled the three-match series with a comfortable victory at the R. Premadasa Stadium, chasing down a target of 220 with more than three overs to spare. Following the match, several England players expressed dissatisfaction with the playing surface, suggesting it was not ideal for one-day internationals.

Speaking after the match, Asalanka acknowledged that opinions on pitch conditions can differ but pointed to the overall scoring as evidence that the surface was not excessively poor.

“Everyone is entitled to their opinion,” Asalanka said. “But when you look at the match as a whole, the two teams scored around 440 runs. That doesn’t really suggest an unplayable wicket.”

The Sri Lanka skipper also drew comparisons with previous encounters between the two sides, noting that similar scrutiny had not been applied on other occasions when conditions were challenging.

“In the World Cup game in Bengaluru, England were bowled out for around 160, and there wasn’t much discussion about the pitch then,” he added. “So I don’t fully understand why the reaction is so strong this time.”

While defending the Colombo surface against heavy criticism, Asalanka conceded that it did not play as expected, particularly when compared to the first ODI of the series, which offered better conditions for batting.

“I didn’t expect the second pitch to behave that way,” he said. “In the first match, scores of around 270 or 280 were achievable. As a batting side, you always want to give your bowlers more runs to work with. The pitch definitely played differently, but even then, I don’t think it was a 220-run wicket. I was personally aiming for something closer to 250 or 260.”

With the series now level, attention turns to the decider, where pitch conditions and adaptability are once again likely to play a significant role. Both teams will be eager to adjust quickly as they seek to claim the series in Colombo.

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Cricket

Gary Kirsten Appointed as Head Coach of Sri Lanka National Men’s Team

Published

2 hours ago

March 11, 2026

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Sri Lanka Cricket has officially announced the appointment of Gary Kirsten as the new head coach of the national men’s team, effective from 15 April 2026. His tenure will run for two years, concluding on 14 April 2028.

Kirsten, a former South African international cricketer, brings with him a wealth of coaching experience and a distinguished playing career. Between 2008 and 2011, he served as head coach of the India men’s national team, guiding them to victory in the 2011 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. He later took charge of the South Africa men’s national team from 2011 to 2013, during which South Africa rose to become the number one ranked team across all formats.

Most recently, Kirsten worked as a consultant with Cricket Namibia during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, further expanding his global coaching footprint.

As a player, Kirsten represented South Africa from 1993 to 2004, amassing 14,087 international runs across Tests and ODIs. His record includes 21 Test centuries and 13 ODI centuries, cementing his reputation as one of South Africa’s most reliable batsmen.

Sri Lanka Cricket has emphasized that Kirsten’s appointment is part of a broader initiative to revamp the National High Performance Center. His primary responsibility will be to prepare and lead the Sri Lanka National Men’s Team in their campaign for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.

Cricket

Sri Lanka–Afghanistan Series Postponed Amid Regional Tensions

Published

4 days ago

March 7, 2026

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Sri Lanka Cricket has decided to postpone the upcoming limited-overs series against Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates due to the current situation in the Middle East, sources confirmed.

The series, which was scheduled to run from March 13 to 25, included three T20 internationals in Sharjah and three ODIs in Dubai. However, growing security concerns following reports of Iranian strikes across parts of the region have forced officials to reconsider travel and hosting arrangements.

Both cricket boards are understood to be in discussions to reschedule the fixtures once conditions improve. The decision comes at a time when Sri Lanka is also focusing on strengthening its domestic fitness programme, with selectors emphasizing that physical readiness will be a key factor in future squad selections.

Cricket

Jayasuriya Hands Over Resignation as Sri Lanka Head Coach

Published

5 days ago

March 6, 2026

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Cricket legend Sanath Jayasuriya has formally handed over his resignation as Head Coach of the Sri Lanka national team, following the side’s disappointing World Cup campaign.

It is learnt, the resignation was submitted on Thursday after discussions with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva. Jayasuriya, who took charge with hopes of reviving the team’s fortunes, decided to step aside after the tournament’s poor showing.

Despite stepping down, Jayasuriya will remain involved in Sri Lankan cricket. In a significant transition, he has been assigned to lead the High Performance Centre, where he will oversee player development and the broader cricketing structure.

Sri Lanka Cricket has yet to announce a replacement for the head coach role, but officials confirmed that talks are underway to identify a candidate capable of steering the national side forward.