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Dhananjaya de Silva replaces Dimuth Karunaratne as Sri Lanka’s new Test captain

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Following a horrible end to 2023, Sri Lanka has made some wholesale changes to their teams the most recent one being Dhananjaya de Silva replacing Dimuth Karunaratne as their test captain.

De Silva will be the 18th player to lead the Island Nation in Tests.

De Silva’s first assignment will be the one-off Test against Afghanistan, starting February 6.

The 32-year-old has been a regular member of the test squad. In his 51 Tests, he has scored 3301 runs at an average of under 40. He has ten centuries and 13 half-centuries under his belt.

Dimuth Karunaratne took to social media to confirm that he has been replaced by Dhananjaya de Silva as Sri Lanka’s Test captain.

Karunaratne won 12 of his 30 Tests in charge after being appointed in place of Dinesh Chandimal in 2019.

“Cricket fans world over, as I finally hand over the reins of the SL Test captaincy after a decent and memorable stint, who better other than to you Dhananjaya De Silva, an excellent all round athlete in my books,” he wrote on Facebook.

“Dhana, I’ve watched you grow and develop into a very matured and fantastic cricketer over the years… Smart, ice cool and a very shrewd cricket brain, I may add more so your own style you adapt and also that very famous smile you always wear every time on and off the field.

“I am very confident SL Test cricket is in very safe hands and will be going forward through your tenure as skipper.”
He added: “I’ll be there to support you on and off the field rest assured.”

Earlier Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) named two separate captains in the white-ball formats, with batter Kusal Mendis to lead the ODI team and all rounder Wanindu Hasaranga named the T20I captain.

“I would have preferred to have the same captain for all three formats,” said chief selector Upul Tharanga, “but we are unable to do that at the moment with the players we have.”

The Chief Selector also expressed displeasure at the pitches provided at the ongoing SLC Major League Limited Over Tournament.

Addressing a media briefing in Colombo on 5th January, Upul Tharanga said:

“We are unhappy with the wickets provided for club cricket. When we spoke with the players’ they too expressed displeasure about the pitches. Players want good wickets in order to continue their fine momentum. They complain about the pitches here saying the pitches on the international stage are totally different when compared to the wickets given in Club Cricket.”

“We discussed this issue with Sri Lanka Cricket as well, and they got a plan to include pitch curators from the next season to monitor the wickets. So, I believe at least from the next season we will get good wickets,” Upul went to say.

Tharanga also speaked about their preparation for the T20 World cup in USA/West Indies scheduled to take centre stage in June/July.

“We need to make short-term plans for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the USA next June, and a long-term plan for the 2027 ODI World Cup. We aim to make selections aligned with these well-thought-out plans,”

“we noted that our team players are not displaying consistent performance, despite their talent. We held discussions with the them before the selections, in idea of guiding them smoothly forward,”

Cricket

Sri Lanka to Begin Caribbean Tour with ODI Series in June 2026

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The Sri Lanka national cricket team is set to embark on a full tour of the West Indies cricket team in June and July 2026, featuring a complete schedule across all three formats of the game.

The tour will open with a three-match One Day International (ODI) series at the renowned Sabina Park. The first ODI is scheduled for June 3, followed by the second on June 6 and the final match on June 8. These opening fixtures are expected to set the tone for the remainder of the tour.

Attention will then shift to the shorter format, with three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) also taking place at Sabina Park. The matches are set for June 11, June 13, and June 14, offering fans a fast-paced contest between the two sides.

Sri Lanka will then travel to Antigua for a four-day warm-up game from June 18 to 21 at the Coolidge Cricket Ground. This match will serve as preparation for the longer format of the game.

The two-match Test series will be held at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. The first Test is scheduled from June 25 to 29, while the second Test will take place from July 3 to 7.

Schedule

  • June 3 – First ODI at Sabina Park
  • June 6 – Second ODI at Sabina Park
  • June 8 – Third ODI at Sabina Park
  • June 11 – First T20I at Sabina Park
  • ⁠June 13 – Second T20I at Sabina Park
  • ⁠June 14 – Third T20I at Sabina Park
  • ⁠June 18–21 – Four-day warm-up match at Coolidge Cricket Ground
  • ⁠June 25–29 – First Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
  • ⁠July 3–7 – Second Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
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Athletics

Hero’s Welcome for Golden Girl Wasana

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Sri Lanka celebrated in style as its lone gold medalist Nipuni Wasana at the 6th Asian Beach Games returned home to a rousing welcome, marking a proud moment for the nation.

Airwoman Nipuni Wasana stole the spotlight in Sanya, China, where she clinched gold in the Women’s 50kg Beach Wrestling event. In the final, she overcame Vietnam’s Doan Thi Kim Oanh with a composed and commanding performance, securing a historic victory for Sri Lanka.

Her achievement was met with a grand at Bandaranaike International Airport, where Air Force personnel, sports officials, and supporters gathered to honor her success. Wasana was also given the distinction of carrying the national flag at the closing ceremony, highlighting her status as the country’s top performer at the Games.

Sri Lanka wrapped up its campaign with a total of seven medals one gold, two silver, and four bronze demonstrating competitive strength across multiple disciplines.

The Women’s Beach Kabaddi team delivered an impressive performance to secure silver, while the Men’s team contributed with a bronze medal finish. In Athletics, Ishara Samanmali earned silver in the women’s long jump, and Sashikala Lankathilaka claimed bronze. The Men’s 4x60m relay team also added to the tally with a bronze-winning effort.

A contingent of 77 Sri Lankan athletes competed in eight sports at the Games. Although several disciplines did not produce medals, the team achieved a respectable 10th place overall.
Host nation China dominated the medal standings with 24 gold medals, followed by Thailand and Iran.

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News

Chathuranga takes charge as Tuskers seek redemption in final showdown

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Sri Lanka’s Tuskers head into their final fixture against the touring New Zealand Under-85kg side this evening with a fresh leader and a renewed sense of urgency, following a narrow defeat in the opening encounter.

In a notable pre-match development, Tharindu Chathuranga has been entrusted with the captaincy for the decisive game at Nittawela Stadium, set to kick off at 4.15 p.m. The move sees original skipper Lasindu Karunathilake relegated to the bench, as selectors opt for a different approach in their bid to overturn fortunes.

The Tuskers were competitive in the first leg but ultimately fell 27–16 at the Racecourse Grounds. With the series on the line, the team management has responded with a mix of tactical reshuffling and personnel changes aimed at sharpening both attack and defense.
Among the key adjustments, Omalka Gunarathna steps into the starting role at number eight, while Kavindu de Costa replaces Harsha Maduranga at scrum-half. An injury to winger Janidu Dilshan has forced another change, with Jayathu Rajarathna promoted from the bench to the starting XV.

Further alterations in the back division see Murshid Doray move to fullback, allowing Thenuka Nanayakkara to slot into the fly-half position to steer the attack. The bench too has been reinforced with fresh options, as selectors look to add impact in the latter stages of the contest.

Chathuranga, a seasoned campaigner and former Kingswood College leader, has earned recognition for guiding Kandy SC to a strong league season, finishing as runners-up. Known for his work rate and leadership qualities, he now shoulders the responsibility of rallying the side in a high-stakes encounter.

With pride and parity in the series at stake, the Tuskers will be aiming for a more disciplined and clinical display as they attempt to turn the tables on a resilient New Zealand outfit.

Line-up for the final match

Forwards: Deshan Vimukthi, Pulasthi Dassanayake, Hansitha De Silva, Thilina Bandara, Naveen Marasinghe, Tharindu Chathuranga (captain), Lahiru Thilakarathne, Omalka Gunarathna

Backs: Kavindu de Costa, Thenuka Nanayakkara, Dilulksha Dange, Arkash Maduranga, Manika Ruberu, Jayathu Rajarathna, Murshid Doray

Bench: Venura Kodhagoda, Charith Silva, Nisal, Lasindu Karunathilake, Denuwan Wickramaarachi, Oliver Buckle, Vidhuna Amaneth, Yuwan Pathirana

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