News
Cricketers who retired early because of severe injuries
Injuries are considered an inevitable element of any sport but when the game is being played with a 150-gram ball made up of solid cork and leather and being delivered at lightning speed, you should expect numerous broken jaws, fractured ribs, and wounded heads. But the fact of the matter is that more serious injuries have materialized on the field of cricket by not just pace and bounce of the ball but also by the athletic and acrobatic stunts from the cricketers who in pursuit of giving their 100 percent on the field, often end up pulling a hamstring, twisting an ankle or fracturing their knees. There have been numerous instances when these injuries have proven more than ordinary hick-ups and have ended up costing players their careers. There are quite a few players who have been victims of injuries in their careers and let us go through a few of them.
Shane Bond

The speed star from New Zealand was renowned for his lightning pace. He was being viewed upon as one of the greatest after Sir Richard Hadlee. He is the fastest bowler to have emerged from the land of New Zealand. During his peak in 2003, this man was the real attraction in the world cup along with the likes of Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee. He has ripped through quite a few batting orders. He represented the black caps for nine years but this doesn’t tell the complete story. During his patchy career, he could manage to play only 18 tests and 82 ODIS thanks to the fragility of his structure.
Time and again he had issues with his back. The most serious of which was in late 2003 when he had surgery and his spine was transfused with titanium wire and was out for cricket for almost two years. Apart from these serious challenges, minute niggles were also frequently occurring which hindered his career. This speed merchant hung his shoes in 2010.
Nathan Bracken

The left-arm seamer from New South Wales was tall and well built with exceptional bowling abilities. He made his debut on the Australian side in the era when they had great Mcgrath, Lee, and Warne. He had the canny ability to move the ball back into the right-handers. He was definitely a guy with a promising future. He was ranked as the number 1 ODI bowler in 2008 and also he was declared Australia’s ODI player of the year in 2009. Like many other fast bowlers, he too had his share of injuries. But it was his knee injury that really curtailed his career and despite fighting all the odds, he decided to leave the game and planned to have his knee operated on.
Muhammad Zahid

Pakistan has a history of producing great fast bowlers. Most of them have unearthed from the province of Punjab. In the ’90s this pace bowling attack reached its crescendo and in those days it was considered almost impossible to penetrate into this attack. But surprisingly this lad from Gaggu Mandi made an impact in his debut test match against New Zealand with his ferocious pace and was and picked up 11 scalps. He was a genuine fast bowler with a great heart and was viewed upon as a great prospect for Pakistan cricket.
He suffered a back injury in the early part of his career and got operated on. This kept him out of the game but when he came back in 1999, he could never make the same impact again. He could manage to play only 5 test matches and 11 one-day internationals. He last represented Pakistan back in January 2003 and unfortunately could not make a comeback after that.
Craig Kieswetter

Born and raised in South Africa, Kieswetter played for Somerset in English county. Like few other players, he preferred England over South Africa for his international career and played 46 ODI and 25 T20 internationals. He was a hard-hitting wicketkeeper-batsman who liked to play his strokes and had opened for England in T20 cricket. The highlight of his career was winning the T20 world cup in 2010 in the Caribbean where he performed brilliantly along with Kevin Pietersen to clinch the 1st ICC title for his country.
In the 2014 season of English county, Craig Kieswetter was playing for Somerset against Northamptonshire where he met a very serious injury that shattered his aspirations of an illustrious career. He received a bouncer who went through his helmet and hit him on the face. He suffered from a broken nose and fractured cheekbone. The injury was quite serious indeed but nobody expected it to be a career-threatening one. But the later proceedings clearly proved the severity of the blow and Kieswetter tried his best to fight the ailment but the things never went his after that blow. He found it impossible to sight the ball and hence had to retire from all forms of the game.
Saqlain Mushtaq

He was a wily character with a wide range of deliveries up his sleeve. Saqlain’s mixed bag contained the off-spin, topspin, arm ball and the most potent of them all was the doosra. He is someone who resurrected the art of off-spin bowling by inventing doosra. He changed the paradigm of off-spin bowling and demonstrated that off-spinners were no more going to be a run containing articles. He was the fastest to 100 and 200 ODI wickets.
He suffered from a knee injury and had surgery in left knee in early 2004. He was out of international cricket for almost half a year before that. But in March 2004, Inzamam ul Haq called Saqlain Mushtaq back into the side to play a test match against India in Multan. Even though Saqlain argued that he was not 100 percent to play the game, but Inzi insisted that he needed him in the team because of the non-availability of a genuine off-spinner. The match however didn’t turn out to be great for Saqlain because he got some serious hammering at the hands of Virender Shewag who scored 309. Saqlain ended up with dismal figures of 1-204. He was immediately dropped from the side and the worst part about that was that his injury exacerbated his right knee also underwent surgery. However, after this surgery, he could never make a comeback into the Pakistan team and that meant the end of his career.
Saba Karim

Saba Karim is one of the lesser-known commodities in international cricket. He played as a wicketkeeper for India but for not a long duration. He could never really find his place in the Indian team even after his debut in 1996. After the failures of the Indian keepers such as Nayan Mongia and Sameer Dighe, Mongia was called into the Indian team in the 2000 series against South Africa. It appeared to all of Indians that this was his chance to solidify his spot in the team but destiny had planned something else. In the 2000 Asia cup at Dhaka Karim was standing behind the stumps when he got hit on the eye on the delivery of Kumble. He underwent surgery but all this could not prevent this injury from finishing his cricket career forever and hence he never played again for India.
Phillip Hughes

This gutsy left-handed batsman from South Australia was an elegant and promising cricketer with an illustrious career ahead of him. He played a couple of seasons for New South Wales before making his international debut. His stroke playing resembled that of great Mathew Hayden and he was as effective as the two legendary openers Langer and Hayden.
His story of injury is very different from the rest of the guys mentioned here because his injury didn’t just cost him his career but his precious life.
In November 2014 at Sydney, while representing South Australia against New South Wales, He received a bouncer from Sean Abbot that hit him just below his left year. Receiving the blow, he immediately fell down and went into the state of a comma. He was immediately hospitalized and the game was abandoned.
He remained in the state of coma for two days during which he underwent surgery as well. But unfortunately, the young lad at the age of 25 was not able to survive this blow and died on 27th November 2014.
The news came out as a shock to the entire cricketing fraternity and later serious concerns were raised on the safety of players and the use of better safety wares for the players. But this incidence clearly proves the point that cricket is by no means an easy game to play especially when you are facing a steaming fast bowler.
Football
Uzbekistan Dominate Sri Lanka 10-0 in AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers
Colombo, June 29 – The Sri Lanka Women’s National Football Team suffered a crushing 10-0 defeat at the hands of Uzbekistan in their opening fixture of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, exposing not only the performance gap on the field but also the deep-rooted structural failures off it.

From kickoff, Uzbekistan showcased their superiority with relentless attacking football, scoring five goals in each half. The match statistics tell a story of complete dominance:
- Shots on Target: 14 (Uzbekistan) vs 0 (Sri Lanka)
- Possession: 70% (Uzbekistan) vs 30% (Sri Lanka)
- Dangerous Attacks: 137 (Uzbekistan) vs 28 (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka managed only two shots in the entire match—none of which tested the opposition goalkeeper—while spending most of the game pinned back in defense.

However, beyond the scoreboard, this defeat highlights a more alarming truth: the lack of commitment to women’s football by local authorities. The Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) has failed to organize a single women’s tournament domestically in recent years, and the squad selected for this major continental qualifier was chosen solely through a limited trial. There was no competitive platform or league for players to develop or prove themselves ahead of international duty.
This performance is not just a reflection of the players’ inexperience—it’s a direct consequence of administrative negligence. FFSL must take full responsibility for this embarrassing result, as it continues to send underprepared teams to international tournaments merely to safeguard its position, rather than genuinely investing in the development of Sri Lankan football.
Even more concerning is the silence from the Ministry of Sports. Despite the humiliating performances of the Under-20 team in the recent SAFF Championship and now the senior women’s team in the AFC qualifiers, no action has been taken, and no accountability has been demanded. The ministry’s indifference to these repeated failures raises serious questions about its role in ensuring sports governance and development in Sri Lanka.
As Sri Lankan football continues to struggle, it is clear that without structural change, genuine investment, and accountability, results like these will only continue.
News
Dialog Schools Rugby League Week 4: Powerhouses Dominate as Rivalries Intensify
The fourth week of the 2025 Dialog Schools Rugby League brought high-octane action across Colombo and Kandy, as traditional rugby giants asserted dominance while title ambitions sharpened. Here’s a round-up of the top matches that defined the week:
Trinity Outmuscles St. Joseph’s at CR & FC
Trinity College, Kandy, continued their unbeaten streak with a commanding 29-07 win over St. Joseph’s College, Maradana at the CR & FC grounds in Colombo. Trinity crossed the whitewash five times with 5 tries and 2 conversions, displaying explosive forward play and well-structured phases.
St. Joseph’s struggled to match Trinity’s physicality but managed a consolation try and conversion. At halftime, Trinity led 22-0, setting the tone early and maintaining control throughout.
Wesley Tames St. Peter’s in Tight Clash
At Havelock Park, Wesley College recorded a gritty 23-05 victory over St. Peter’s College. The Wesleyites scored 3 tries, 1 conversion, and added 2 penalties, proving their clinical edge under pressure.
St. Peter’s could only respond with a single try and failed to find rhythm. Wesley led 8-0 at the break and controlled territory effectively in the second half.
Isipathana Outguns Zahira in a High-Scoring Thriller
In one of the most entertaining matches of the weekend, Isipathana College edged out Zahira College 38-27 at Zahira Grounds. Isipathana scored 6 tries and 4 conversions, showcasing pace and creativity in attack.
Zahira fought back gallantly with 4 tries, 2 conversions, and a penalty, pushing the defending champions to the limit. At halftime, Isipathana led 26-8, and though Zahira launched a strong second-half rally, the Green Machine held on.
Royal Routs Vidyartha in Dominant Display
Royal College, Colombo, was at their clinical best as they overcame Vidyartha College, Kandy, 29-07 at the Royal Complex. The home side dotted down 5 tries and 2 conversions, demonstrating power rugby and slick handling.
Vidyartha managed a single converted try but struggled to contain Royal’s powerful forwards and rolling mauls. Royal led 12-7 at halftime before pulling away in the second half.
Looking Ahead
With teams like Trinity, Isipathana, and Royal continuing to impress, the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025 is shaping up for a thrilling finish. Fans can expect tighter games and fierce battles as title dreams grow stronger.
Stay tuned with Sri Lankan Sports TV for full match reports, results, and exclusive school rugby coverage!
Athletics
Sri Lanka Shines at Thailand Open 2025 with 11-Medal Haul
The Sri Lankan athletics team wrapped up a remarkable campaign at the Thailand Open Athletics Championship 2025, securing an impressive 11 medals, including 6 golds, during the competition held from June 21 to 25 in Bangkok.
The Sri Lankan squad, made up of eight athletes—four men and four women—delivered standout performances across track and field events, making the nation proud on the international stage.
Leading the charge was Rusiru Chathuranga, who clinched double gold in the Men’s 800m and 1500m events. Vicknaraj Vakshan added to the tally with a gold in the 5000m and a silver in the 1500m, while W.K.L.A. Nimali matched that feat by claiming gold in the Women’s 800m and silver in the 1500m.
Madushani Herath showed her dominance in the field events, capturing gold in both the long jump and triple jump. Ayomal Akalanka earned silver in the Men’s 400m hurdles, and Wathsala Hapuarachchi took silver in the Women’s 100m hurdles. Safreen Ahmed contributed a bronze medal in the Men’s triple jump.
While seven out of eight athletes reached the podium, Amasha de Silva narrowly missed out, finishing fourth in the Women’s 100m final, showcasing a commendable performance.
The full team is expected to return to Sri Lanka today after a tour that highlights the depth of talent in local athletics and signals strong potential ahead of upcoming regional events
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