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Despite a thumping win Dimuth wants bowlers to show more maturity
Ireland tour of Sri Lanka 2023
Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne believes though Sri Lanka registered a record-breaking victory against Ireland in the first Test, there are certain areas where they should improve when facing top teams, especially the bowling unit.
“We have a talented Test team with a blend of youngsters. But I still believe we are not 100 per cent, especially bowling-wise. I believe our bowling is still average because sometimes we bowl well but sometimes don’t stick to the plan. We should mend these mistakes when we meet top teams,” said Dimuth at the post-match conference.
“Most of the players have played very little Test cricket. I believe they will improve when they march forward, but they should mature soon because we don’t have that many Test matches to learn, so they should play domestic matches and gain experience,” the skipper further added.
“Batting-wise we got a good combination. I don’t see anything wrong in batting, but one thing we should learn is how to adjust to the conditions when we are on tour. Though we get good starts, it’s anticipated we convert them into big knocks, and if we can do that, I hope we can put on a top performance in any condition”.
Sri Lanka thumped Ireland by innings and 280 runs in the first Test in Galle, with the hosts wrapping up victory after tea on day three.
Ireland, who lost 13 wickets on the day, were bowled out for 168 in their second innings having been rolled for 143 in their first knock as they replied to the home team’s 591-6 declared.
Sri Lanka spinner Prabath Jayasuriya earned match figures of 10-108, backing up his first innings 7-52 with 3-56 the second time around, as his team secured their record victory margin in Test cricket, eclipsing the innings-and-254-run win against Zimbabwe in 2004.
Ireland’s defeat was their fifth in as many games since they were awarded Test status in 2017, with Andy Balbirnie’s men also beaten by Pakistan, Afghanistan, England and Bangladesh.
Jayasuriya’s fellow spinner Ramesh Mendis claimed 4-76 as he equalled Dilruwan Perera in becoming the fastest Sri Lankan to 50 Test wickets – in 11 matches.
“I always try to do the basic things right. If we can stick to them, I believe we can survive in any condition. As a bowling unit we always speak about how to support each other because during the match the role we have will differ from time to time, whereas sometimes I may have the role of bowling dots and create pressure which will enable the other bowlers who bowl from the other end to get the breakthrough,” said the man of the match Prabath Jayasuriya.
Meanwhile, Ireland skipper Andrew Balbirnie insisted that Dimuth Karunaratne winning the toss for Sri Lanka on day one at Galle International Stadium played a key role in the hosts’ record-breaking victory, while also acknowledging the disparity in levels between the two teams.
“We’ve got a couple of more days’ rest, recovery and to train and get used to these conditions; but certainly, our bowlers got some miles in their legs,” Balbirnie said afterwards.
“It was a challenging first inning. Naturally, it was a big toss to win; even though I’m not saying we would have got 600, it was certainly the nicest time to bat in the Test match, in my opinion.
“But I can’t be critical of the players. They’re really trying their hardest to be competitive at this level, but it’s just very difficult when you come up against a team, who in their own conditions, is as good as anyone.
“We will try again in the next Test and hopefully we can put in performances we can be proud of,” he added.
විශිෂ්ට ජයග්රහණයක් ලැබුවද දිමුත්ට අවශ්ය වන්නේ පන්දු යවන්නන් වැඩි පරිණතභාවයක් පෙන්වීමටයි
ශ්රී ලංකාවේ අයර්ලන්ත සංචාරය 2023
ශ්රී ලංකාව පළමු ටෙස්ට් තරගයේදී අයර්ලන්තයට එරෙහිව වාර්තාගත ජයග්රහණයක් වාර්තා කළද, ප්රමුඛ පෙළේ කණ්ඩායම්වලට මුහුණදීමේදී, විශේෂයෙන්ම පන්දු යැවීමේ අංශයට මුහුණදීමේදී දියුණු විය යුතු අංශ කිහිපයක් තිබෙන බව ටෙස්ට් නායක දිමුත් කරුණාරත්න විශ්වාස කරයි.
“තරුණ ක්රීඩකයන්ගේ සම්මිශ්රණයක් සහිත දක්ෂ ටෙස්ට් කණ්ඩායමක් අප සතුව ඇත. නමුත් මම තවමත් විශ්වාස කරන්නේ අපි සියයට 100ක්, විශේෂයෙන්ම පන්දු යැවීම අතින් නොගැලපෙන බවයි. සමහර විට අපි හොඳින් පන්දු යවන නමුත් සමහර අවස්ථාවලදී අපි පන්දු යැවීම සාමාන්ය මට්ටමක පවතින බව මම විශ්වාස කරමි. අපි ඉහළ කණ්ඩායම් හමුවූ විට මෙම වැරදි නිවැරදි කළ යුතුයි” දිමුත් තරගයෙන් පසු පැවති සමුළුවේදී පැවසීය.
“බොහෝ ක්රීඩකයින් ටෙස්ට් ක්රිකට් ක්රීඩා කර ඇත්තේ ඉතා සුළු ප්රමාණයකි. ඔවුන් ඉදිරියට යන විට ඔවුන් දියුණු වනු ඇතැයි මම විශ්වාස කරමි, නමුත් අපට ඉගෙන ගැනීමට එතරම් ටෙස්ට් තරඟ නොමැති නිසා ඔවුන් ඉක්මනින් පරිණත විය යුතුය, එබැවින් ඔවුන් දේශීය තරඟ ක්රීඩා කර අත්දැකීම් ලබා ගත යුතුය. ” නායකයා වැඩිදුරටත් පැවසීය.
“පිතිකරණය අනුව අපට හොඳ සංයෝජනයක් ලැබුණා. මම පිතිකරණයේ වරදක් දකින්නේ නැහැ, නමුත් අපි ඉගෙන ගත යුතු එක් දෙයක් නම් අපි සංචාරයේ යෙදෙන විට තත්වයන්ට හැඩගැසෙන්නේ කෙසේද යන්නයි. අපට හොඳ ආරම්භයක් ලැබුණත්, අපි ඒවා පරිවර්තනය කිරීමට අපේක්ෂා කරමු. විශාල පහරවල් වලට, සහ අපට එය කළ හැකි නම්, ඕනෑම තත්වයකදී අපට ඉහළ කාර්ය සාධනයක් ලබා ගත හැකි යැයි මම බලාපොරොත්තු වෙමි.
ශ්රී ලංකාව සහ අයර්ලන්තය අතර ගාල්ලේදී පැවැති පළමු ටෙස්ට් තරගය ඉනිමකින් සහ ලකුණු 280කින් පරාජයට පත්කළ ශ්රී ලංකාව තෙවැනි දින තේ පානයෙන් පසු ජයග්රහණය අත්කර ගත්තේය.
ඊයේ දිනයේ කඩුලු 13ක් දැවී ගිය අයර්ලන්තය සිය දෙවැනි ඉනිමේදී ලකුණු 168කට දැවී ගියේ සිය පළමු ඉනිමේදීම ලකුණු 143කට දැවී යෑමෙන් අනතුරුව එම කණ්ඩායම ලබාගත් ලකුණු 591-6ට පිළිතුරු ලෙසයි.
ශ්රී ලංකා දඟ පන්දු යවන ක්රීඩක ප්රභාත් ජයසූරිය ලකුණු 10-108ක් ලෙස තරඟ සංඛ්යා ලබා ගත් අතර, ඔහුගේ කණ්ඩායම දෙවන වරටත් සිය පළමු ඉනිම ලකුණු 7-52ක් සමඟින් ලකුණු 3-56ක් සමඟින් පසුකරමින් ටෙස්ට් ක්රිකට් ක්රීඩාවේ වාර්තාගත ජයග්රහණ පරතරයක් ලබා ගනිමින් ඉනිම් සහ 254ක් අභිබවා ගියේය. 2004 දී සිම්බාබ්වේට එරෙහිව දුවන්න.
අයර්ලන්තයේ පරාජය 2017 දී ඔවුන්ට ටෙස්ට් තත්ත්වය පිරිනැමීමෙන් පසු බොහෝ ක්රීඩා වලදී ඔවුන්ගේ පස්වැනි පරාජය වූ අතර ඇන්ඩි බල්බිර්නිගේ පිරිමින් පාකිස්තානය, ඇෆ්ගනිස්ථානය, එංගලන්තය සහ බංග්ලාදේශය විසින් ද පරාජය කරන ලදී.
ජයසූරියගේ සෙසු දඟපන්දු යවන ක්රීඩක රමේෂ් මෙන්ඩිස් ලකුණු 4-76 කින් හිමිකම් කීවේ ඔහු තරග 11 කදී වේගවත්ම ටෙස්ට් කඩුලු 50 ක් දවාගත් ශ්රී ලාංකිකයා බවට පත්වීමට දිල්රුවන් පෙරේරා සම කළ බැවිනි.
“මම හැම විටම උත්සාහ කරන්නේ මූලික දේවල් නිවැරදිව කිරීමටයි. අපට ඒවාට ඇලී සිටිය හැකි නම්, අපට ඕනෑම තත්වයක ජීවත් විය හැකි බව මම විශ්වාස කරමි. පන්දු යැවීමේ ඒකකයක් ලෙස අපි සෑම විටම කතා කරන්නේ එකිනෙකාට සහය වන්නේ කෙසේද යන්නයි, මන්ද තරඟයේදී අපට ඇති කාර්යභාරය වෙනස් වනු ඇත. විටින් විට පන්දු යැවීමේ කාර්ය භාරය මට සිදු විය හැකි අතර අනෙක් අන්තයේ සිට පන්දු යවන අනෙකුත් පන්දු යවන්නන්ට පෙරළියක් ලබා ගැනීමට හැකි වන පරිදි පීඩනයක් ඇති කළ හැකි බව තරගයේ වීරයා ප්රභාත් ජයසූරිය පැවසීය.
මේ අතර, ගාලු ජාත්යන්තර ක්රීඩාංගණයේ පළමු දිනයේ දී ශ්රී ලංකාව වෙනුවෙන් කාසියේ වාසිය දිනූ දිමුත් කරුණාරත්න සත්කාරකයන්ගේ වාර්තාගත ජයග්රහණයට ප්රධාන කාර්යභාරයක් ඉටු කළ බව අයර්ලන්ත නායක ඇන්ඩෲ බල්බර්නි අවධාරනය කළ අතර කණ්ඩායම් දෙක අතර මට්ටම්වල විෂමතාවය ද පිළිගනිමින්.
“අපට තව දින කිහිපයක විවේකයක්, සුවයක් සහ පුහුණුවීම් සහ මෙම තත්වයන්ට හුරු වීමට තිබේ; නමුත් නිසැකවම, අපගේ පන්දු යවන්නන්ගේ කකුල් වල සැතපුම් කිහිපයක් තිබේ,” Balbirnie පසුව පැවසීය.
“එය අභියෝගාත්මක පළමු ඉනිමක් විය. ස්වාභාවිකවම, එය ජයග්රහණය කිරීම විශාල කාසියේ වාසියක් විය; මට 600ක් ලැබෙනු ඇතැයි මම නොකියුවද, එය නිසැකවම ටෙස්ට් තරගයේ පන්දුවට පහර දීමට හොඳම කාලය බව මගේ මතයයි.
“නමුත් මට ක්රීඩකයන් විවේචනය කළ නොහැක. ඔවුන් ඇත්තටම මේ මට්ටමේ තරඟකාරී වීමට උපරිම උත්සාහයක් දරයි, නමුත් ඔබ ඔවුන්ගේම තත්වයන් යටතේ ඕනෑම කෙනෙකුට වඩා හොඳ කණ්ඩායමකට එරෙහිව එන විට එය ඉතා අපහසුය. ..
“අපි මීළඟ ටෙස්ට් තරගයේදී නැවත උත්සාහ කරන්නෙමු, අපට ආඩම්බර විය හැකි දස්කම් දැක්වීමට හැකි වනු ඇතැයි බලාපොරොත්තු වෙමු,” ඔහු වැඩිදුරටත් පැවසීය.
அபார வெற்றி பெற்றாலும், பந்துவீச்சாளர்கள் அதிக முதிர்ச்சியைக் காட்ட வேண்டும் என்று திமுத் விரும்புகிறார்
இலங்கைக்கான அயர்லாந்து சுற்றுப்பயணம் 2023
அயர்லாந்துக்கு எதிரான முதல் டெஸ்டில் இலங்கை அணி சாதனை படைத்த வெற்றியைப் பதிவு செய்தாலும், முன்னணி அணிகளை எதிர்கொள்ளும் போது, குறிப்பாக பந்துவீச்சுப் பிரிவை எதிர்கொள்ளும் சில பகுதிகள் முன்னேற வேண்டும் என்று டெஸ்ட் கேப்டன் திமுத் கருணாரத்ன நம்புகிறார்.
“இளைஞர்களைக் கொண்ட ஒரு திறமையான டெஸ்ட் அணி எங்களிடம் உள்ளது. ஆனால் நாங்கள் 100 சதவிகிதம் இல்லை, குறிப்பாக பந்துவீச்சு வாரியாக இல்லை என்று நான் நம்புகிறேன். சில நேரங்களில் நாங்கள் நன்றாகப் பந்துவீசுகிறோம், ஆனால் சில சமயங்களில் நாங்கள் ஒட்டிக்கொள்வதில்லை, ஏனெனில் எங்கள் பந்துவீச்சு இன்னும் சராசரியாக உள்ளது என்று நான் நம்புகிறேன். நாங்கள் சிறந்த அணிகளை சந்திக்கும் போது இந்த தவறுகளை சரி செய்ய வேண்டும்,” என்று போட்டிக்கு பிந்தைய மாநாட்டில் திமுத் கூறினார்.
“பெரும்பாலான வீரர்கள் மிகக் குறைவான டெஸ்ட் கிரிக்கெட்டை விளையாடியுள்ளனர். அவர்கள் முன்னேறும் போது அவர்கள் முன்னேறுவார்கள் என்று நான் நம்புகிறேன், ஆனால் அவர்கள் விரைவில் முதிர்ச்சியடைய வேண்டும், ஏனெனில் கற்றுக் கொள்ள அதிக டெஸ்ட் போட்டிகள் இல்லை, எனவே அவர்கள் உள்நாட்டு போட்டிகளில் விளையாடி அனுபவத்தைப் பெற வேண்டும், ” கேப்டன் மேலும் கூறினார்.
“பேட்டிங் வாரியாக நாங்கள் ஒரு நல்ல கலவையைப் பெற்றோம். பேட்டிங்கில் நான் தவறாக எதையும் பார்க்கவில்லை, ஆனால் நாம் கற்றுக்கொள்ள வேண்டிய ஒன்று என்னவென்றால், நாங்கள் சுற்றுப்பயணத்தில் இருக்கும்போது நிலைமைகளை எவ்வாறு சரிசெய்வது என்பதுதான். எங்களுக்கு நல்ல தொடக்கங்கள் கிடைத்தாலும், நாங்கள் அவற்றை மாற்றுவோம் என்று எதிர்பார்க்கப்படுகிறது. பெரிய தட்டிகளில், நாம் அதைச் செய்ய முடிந்தால், எந்த நிலையிலும் சிறந்த செயல்திறனை வெளிப்படுத்த முடியும் என்று நான் நம்புகிறேன்.
காலியில் நடந்த முதல் டெஸ்டில் அயர்லாந்தை இன்னிங்ஸ் மற்றும் 280 ரன்கள் வித்தியாசத்தில் இலங்கை தோற்கடித்தது, மூன்றாவது நாளில் தேநீர் முடிந்த பிறகு வெற்றியை புரட்டிப்போட்டது.
அன்று 13 விக்கெட்டுகளை இழந்த அயர்லாந்து, தனது இரண்டாவது இன்னிங்ஸில் 168 ரன்களுக்கு ஆட்டமிழந்தது, அதன் முதல் ஆட்டத்தில் 143 ரன்களுக்கு சுருண்டது.
இலங்கை சுழற்பந்து வீச்சாளர் பிரபாத் ஜெயசூர்யா தனது முதல் இன்னிங்ஸை 7-52, 3-56 என இரண்டாவது முறையாக ஆதரித்து 10-108 என்ற ஆட்ட எண்ணிக்கையைப் பெற்றார், ஏனெனில் அவரது அணி டெஸ்ட் கிரிக்கெட்டில் தங்கள் சாதனை வெற்றி வித்தியாசத்தைப் பெற்றது, இன்னிங்ஸ் மற்றும் 254-ஐக் கைப்பற்றியது. 2004ல் ஜிம்பாப்வேக்கு எதிராக ரன் வெற்றி.
அயர்லாந்தின் தோல்வி 2017 இல் டெஸ்ட் அந்தஸ்து பெற்றதிலிருந்து பல ஆட்டங்களில் ஐந்தாவது தோல்வியாகும், ஆண்டி பால்பிர்னியின் ஆட்களும் பாகிஸ்தான், ஆப்கானிஸ்தான், இங்கிலாந்து மற்றும் பங்களாதேஷ் ஆகியோரால் தோற்கடிக்கப்பட்டனர்.
ஜெயசூர்யாவின் சக சுழற்பந்து வீச்சாளர் ரமேஷ் மெண்டிஸ் 4-76 என்ற கணக்கில் தில்ருவான் பெரேராவை சமன் செய்து, 11 போட்டிகளில் – அதிவேகமாக 50 டெஸ்ட் விக்கெட்டுகளை வீழ்த்திய இலங்கை வீரர் என்ற பெருமையை பெற்றார்.
“நான் எப்போதும் அடிப்படை விஷயங்களைச் சரியாகச் செய்ய முயல்கிறேன். நாம் அவற்றைக் கடைப்பிடித்தால், எந்த நிலையிலும் வாழ முடியும் என்று நான் நம்புகிறேன். ஒரு பந்துவீச்சுப் பிரிவாக நாங்கள் எப்போதும் ஒருவரையொருவர் எப்படி ஆதரிப்பது என்பதைப் பற்றி பேசுகிறோம், ஏனென்றால் போட்டியின் போது நாம் வகிக்கும் பங்கு வேறுபடும். அவ்வப்போது, அதேசமயம் சில சமயங்களில் நான் பந்துவீச்சு புள்ளிகள் மற்றும் அழுத்தத்தை உருவாக்கலாம், இது மறுமுனையில் இருந்து பந்து வீசும் மற்ற பந்துவீச்சாளர்களுக்கு திருப்புமுனையைப் பெற உதவும்” என்று போட்டியின் நாயகன் பிரபாத் ஜெயசூரிய கூறினார்.
இதற்கிடையில், காலி சர்வதேச மைதானத்தில் நடைபெற்ற முதல் நாள் ஆட்டத்தில் இலங்கைக்காக டாஸ் வென்ற திமுத் கருணாரத்ன, புரவலர்களின் சாதனை முறியடிக்கும் வெற்றியில் முக்கியப் பங்காற்றினார் என்று அயர்லாந்து கேப்டன் ஆண்ட்ரூ பால்பிர்னி வலியுறுத்தினார், அதே நேரத்தில் இரு அணிகளுக்கும் இடையிலான சமநிலையின் ஏற்றத்தாழ்வையும் ஒப்புக்கொண்டார்.
“எங்களுக்கு இன்னும் இரண்டு நாட்கள் ஓய்வு, மீட்பு மற்றும் பயிற்சி மற்றும் இந்த நிலைமைகளுக்குப் பழகிவிட்டோம்; ஆனால் நிச்சயமாக, எங்கள் பந்துவீச்சாளர்கள் தங்கள் கால்களில் சில மைல்கள் உள்ளன,” என்று பால்பிர்னி பின்னர் கூறினார்.
“இது ஒரு சவாலான முதல் இன்னிங்ஸ். இயற்கையாகவே, இது ஒரு பெரிய டாஸ் ஆகும்; நாங்கள் 600 ரன்களை எடுத்திருப்போம் என்று நான் கூறவில்லை என்றாலும், டெஸ்ட் போட்டியில் பேட்டிங் செய்ய இதுவே சிறந்த நேரம் என்பது என் கருத்து.
“ஆனால் நான் வீரர்களை விமர்சிக்க முடியாது. அவர்கள் இந்த மட்டத்தில் போட்டித்தன்மையுடன் இருக்க மிகவும் கடினமாக முயற்சி செய்கிறார்கள், ஆனால் நீங்கள் ஒரு அணிக்கு எதிராக வரும்போது அது மிகவும் கடினம், அவர்கள் தங்கள் சொந்த சூழ்நிலையில், யாரையும் போல சிறந்தவர்கள். .
“அடுத்த டெஸ்டில் நாங்கள் மீண்டும் முயற்சிப்போம், நாங்கள் பெருமைப்படக்கூடிய செயல்திறனை வெளிப்படுத்த முடியும்” என்று அவர் மேலும் கூறினார்.
Football
Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 2025: Sri Lanka’s Biggest School Football Showdown Gears Up
Colombo, September 19 – The countdown is on for the Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 1st Eleven Football Challenge Trophy 2025, the most anticipated school football tournament of the year, set to bring together the best young footballing talent from across Sri Lanka.

Organized under the guidance of the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Schools Football Association (SLSFA), and broadcast by Sri Lankan Sports TV, the championship is expected to raise the standard of school football while creating unforgettable memories for players and fans alike.
Tournament Structure
This year’s edition will feature 16 Division 1 schools, divided into four groups of four teams. Over the course of the first round, a total of 24 matches will be played across Colombo, starting in the first week of October with a grand opening ceremony at 2:00 pm.
- Opening Match: Hameed Al Hussaini College vs. Al Falah College, Negombo
- Curtain Raiser: Zahira College, Colombo (defending champions) vs. Darrussaalam College, Colombo
The top two teams from each group will progress to the quarter-finals, followed by the semi-finals, before the Grand Finale in the first week of November. The final venue will be chosen based on the teams that qualify, ensuring equal support and excitement from school fans.
Sponsorship Partnerships

A strong line-up of sponsors is powering Ball Blaster 2025, making it a professionally executed tournament.
- Title Sponsor – Lifebuoy: Leading the way, Lifebuoy continues to champion youth empowerment through sport, health, and hygiene, reinforcing its mission to build healthier, more active communities.

- Refreshing Partner – Elephant House Lemonade: A timeless favorite in Sri Lankan households, Lemonade will keep players and fans refreshed as the heat of competition rises.

- Official Travel Partner – Sky Market Travel: Supporting the smooth logistics of the event, ensuring school teams across regions can fully focus on their football journey.

- Official Clothing Partner – Aacty Wear: Outfitting players, referees, and officials with professional, stylish gear that elevates the identity of school football and promotes local sportswear excellence.

First-Time Milestones
For the first time in history, the tournament has launched its very own official anthem, adding an extra layer of pride, passion, and identity to Ball Blaster 2025. The anthem’s lyrical video has already captured the excitement of fans, building momentum as kick-off draws near.
Furthermore, in a significant step towards supporting schools, the organizers have taken the initiative to provide all participating teams with playing kits and official kits. This move ensures equal opportunity and professionalism across the competition, uplifting both the players’ experience and the overall image of the championship.
A Celebration of Youth & Football
“The Lifebuoy Ball Blaster is not just a football tournament; it’s a celebration of youth, talent, and sportsmanship,” the organizers stated. “With the support of our valued partners Lifebuoy, Elephant House Lemonade, Sky Market Travel, and Aacty Wear, we are committed to elevating school football in Sri Lanka.”
Fans nationwide can look forward to live telecasts, highlights, and digital updates on Sri Lankan Sports TV, ensuring the energy of the matches reaches every corner of the country.
As excitement builds, one thing is clear – Ball Blaster 2025 is set to be more than just a tournament; it’s a stage for the next generation of Sri Lankan football stars to shine.
Football
AIFF Faces FIFA, AFC Ban Threat as October 30 Deadline Looms
Indian football is staring at yet another international suspension as FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have jointly warned the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to ratify its long-pending constitution by October 30, 2025, or risk a complete ban from world football.
In a strongly-worded two-page letter sent on Tuesday (August 26) to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, FIFA and AFC expressed “profound concern” over the failure to finalise and implement a revised constitution, a matter pending before India’s Supreme Court since 2017.
If suspended, India’s national teams and clubs would be barred from all international competitions, while the country’s ambitious 2036 Olympic Games bid in Ahmedabad could also be thrown into uncertainty.
FIFA & AFC Ultimatum
The letter, signed by FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer Elkhan Mammadov and AFC Deputy General Secretary Vahid Kardany, set out three urgent requirements for the AIFF:
1. Obtain a definitive Supreme Court order approving the revised constitution.
2. Ensure full compliance with FIFA and AFC statutes.
3. Formally ratify the constitution at the next AIFF General Meeting.
Failure to comply, they warned, would trigger sanctions, including full suspension of AIFF membership.
Previous Suspension in 2022
This is not the first governance crisis to hit Indian football. In August 2022, FIFA suspended the AIFF for “third-party interference” after a court-appointed Committee of Administrators temporarily ran the federation. That ban lasted just two weeks, lifted only after fresh elections were held in which Kalyan Chaubey defeated football legend Bhaichung Bhutia.
Domestic Fallout – ISL in Crisis
The deadlock has already disrupted Indian football at the domestic level. The Indian Super League (ISL), India’s top-tier professional league, has been put “on hold” by Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the AIFF’s commercial partner, due to uncertainty over its Master Rights Agreement, which expires in December 2025.
At least three clubs have suspended operations or delayed salaries, while all 11 ISL clubs have warned of an “existential crisis.” Reports from FIFPRO further highlight cases of players’ contracts being terminated, leaving livelihoods at risk.
The Supreme Court of India will hear the matter again on August 28, a session that could determine the immediate future of the ISL and India’s football calendar.
What’s at Stake
If AIFF fails to meet the October deadline, India could lose:
• Participation in FIFA and AFC tournaments.
• Entry rights for national teams and clubs in international competitions.
• Momentum in its 2036 Olympics bid.
• Credibility with players, fans, and commercial partners.
For now, the football fraternity in India waits anxiously for the Supreme Court’s verdict and AIFF’s ability to steer through yet another governance storm
Football
Heritage Derby Trophy Goes to Hameed Al Husseinie College
Colombo – Hameed Al Husseinie College emerged victorious in the prestigious Heritage Derby Trophy football encounter against Zahira College, Maradana, securing a 3–1 win at the Colombo Racecourse grounds yesterday.
The match kicked off under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, adding special significance to this annual football rivalry.
Hameed Al Husseinie College took control early, leading 2–0 at halftime before sealing the victory with a third goal in the second half. Zahira College managed to pull one back, but it was not enough to challenge the dominant performance of the winners.
The trophy presentation was held soon after the final whistle, with the principals of both schools — Rizvi Marikkar of Zahira College and Mrs. Dain of Hameed Al Husseinie College — present to witness the celebrations.
This latest victory adds another chapter to the rich history of the Heritage Derby, further cementing Hameed Al Husseinie College’s reputation in school football.
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