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Dushan Hemantha and Matheesha Pathirana are in line to debut in the first ODI against Afghanistan

Leg spinner Dushan Hemantha and pacer Matheesha Pathirana are likely to debut in the first one-day International debuts when Sri Lanka takes on Afghanistan in the first ODI in Hambantota tomorrow.
Sri Lanka will head to the opening game without their ace spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who has been ruled out of the first two ODIs in the three-match series due to an injury in his right knee.
Since Wanindu is out of the first two ODI’s Dushan Hemantha could make his international cricket debut.
“Since Wanindu has an injury concern, Dushan Hemantha has a good chance to debut in the first ODI,” hinted Sri Lanka white ball captain Dasun Shanaka.
Dasun also said the inclusion of two senior pros- Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews to the squad is a huge boost to the balance of the team and if they are looking for a long innings their contribution will play a huge role.
“Dimuth Karunartne and Angelo Mathews’s inclusion to the squad is a huge boost. If we are to play a long innings their contribution will play a major role. Their inclusion has strengthened the squad,” Dasun said.
The white ball skipper also disclosed the young Malinga-like pacer Matheesha Pathirana will make his debut tomorrow. Matheesha is back in Sri Lanka after a successful stint with Chennai Super Kings in the recently concluded Indian Premier League 2023. He will look to continue his fine form, especially in pace-friendly wickets in Hambanthota.
Afghanistan will engage in three ODIs on 2, 4 and 7 June at the MRIC Stadium in Hambantota.
Afghanistan last toured Sri Lanka for an ODI series in November 2022, when the sides engaged in a competitive battle. Afghanistan stunned Sri Lanka in the first ODI, winning the contest by 60 runs. After a no result in the second contest, the Lankans roared back by winning the third ODI by four wickets and levelling the series.
The series will also mark the return of international men’s cricket in Hambantota, with the venue last hosting an ODI match in February 2020.
දුෂාන් හේමන්ත සහ මතීෂ පතිරණ ඇෆ්ගනිස්තානයට එරෙහි පළමු එක්දින තරගයට එක්වීමට නියමිතයි.
ශ්රී ලංකාව සහ ඇෆ්ගනිස්තානය අතර හෙට හම්බන්තොටදී පැවැත්වෙන පළමු එක්දින තරගයේදී දඟ පන්දු යවන ක්රීඩක දුෂාන් හේමන්ත සහ වේග පන්දු යවන ක්රීඩක මතීෂ පතිරණ පළමු එක්දින ජාත්යන්තර තරගයට සහභාගි වීමට ඉඩ තිබේ.
දකුණු දණහිසේ ආබාධයකට ලක්වීම හේතුවෙන් තරග තුනකින් සමන්විත එක්දින තරගාවලියේ පළමු එක්දින තරග දෙකෙන් ඉවත් කර ඇති ඔවුන්ගේ දඟ පන්දු යවන ක්රීඩක වනිඳු හසරංග නොමැතිව ශ්රී ලංකාව ආරම්භක තරගයට පිවිසෙනු ඇත.
වනිඳු පළමු එක්දින තරග දෙකෙන් ඉවත්ව සිටින බැවින් දුෂාන් හේමන්ත ජාත්යන්තර ක්රිකට් තරගයට පිවිසිය හැකිය.
“වනිඳු ආබාධයකට ලක්ව සිටින නිසා දුෂාන් හේමන්තට පළමු එක්දින තරගයට එක්වීමට හොඳ අවස්ථාවක් තිබෙනවා” යැයි ශ්රී ලංකා සුදු පන්දු නායක දසුන් ශානක ඉඟි කළේය.
ජ්යෙෂ්ඨ ක්රීඩකයින් දෙදෙනෙකු වන දිමුත් කරුණාරත්න සහ ඇන්ජලෝ මැතිව්ස් සංචිතයට ඇතුළත් කිරීම කණ්ඩායමේ සමබරතාවයට විශාල ශක්තියක් බවත් ඔවුන් දිගු ඉනිමක් අපේක්ෂා කරන්නේ නම් ඔවුන්ගේ දායකත්වය විශාල කාර්යභාරයක් ඉටු කරන බවත් දසුන් පැවසීය.
“දිමුත් කරුණාරත්න සහ ඇන්ජලෝ මැතිව්ස් සංචිතයට ඇතුළත් කිරීම විශාල ශක්තියක්. අපි දිගු ඉනිමක් ක්රීඩා කරනවා නම් ඔවුන්ගේ දායකත්වය විශාල කාර්යභාරයක් ඉටු කරනවා. ඔවුන් ඇතුළත් කිරීම සංචිතය ශක්තිමත් කර තිබෙනවා” දසුන් පැවසීය.
වේග පන්දු යවන ක්රීඩක මතීෂ පතිරණ හෙට සිය මංගල තරගයට ක්රීඩා කරන බව ද සුදු පන්දු නායකයා තරුණ මාලිංග හෙළි කළේය. මතීෂ පසුගියදා අවසන් වූ ඉන්දීය ප්රිමියර් ලීග් 2023 තරඟාවලියේදී චෙන්නායි සුපර් කිංග්ස් කණ්ඩායම සමඟ සාර්ථක ක්රීඩා කිරීමෙන් පසු නැවතත් ශ්රී ලංකාවට පැමිණ ඇත.
ඇෆ්ගනිස්තානය ජුනි 2, 4 සහ 7 යන දිනවල හම්බන්තොට MRIC ක්රීඩාංගණයේදී එක්දින තරග තුනකට සහභාගි වීමට නියමිතය.
ඇෆ්ගනිස්ථානය අවසන් වරට ශ්රී ලංකාවේ එක්දින තරඟාවලියක් සඳහා සංචාරය කළේ 2022 නොවැම්බර් මාසයේදී දෙපාර්ශවය තරඟකාරී සටනක නිරත වූ අවස්ථාවේදීය. ශ්රී ලංකාව සහ ඇෆ්ගනිස්තානය අතර පැවති පළමු එක්දින තරගය ලකුණු 60කින් ජය ගැනීමට ඇෆ්ගනිස්තානය සමත් විය. දෙවැනි තරගයේ කිසිදු ප්රතිඵලයක් නොලැබීමෙන් පසු තුන්වැනි එක්දින තරගය කඩුලු 4කින් ජය ගනිමින් තරගාවලිය සම කිරීමට ශ්රී ලංකා ක්රිකට් ක්රීඩකයෝ සමත් වූහ.
මෙම තරඟාවලිය හම්බන්තොට ජාත්යන්තර පිරිමි ක්රිකට් ක්රීඩාවේ පුනරාගමනය ද සනිටුහන් කරනු ඇත, එම ස්ථානය අවසන් වරට 2020 පෙබරවාරි මස ODI තරඟයක් පවත්වනු ලැබේ.
ஆப்கானிஸ்தானுக்கு எதிரான முதல் ஒருநாள் போட்டியில் துஷான் ஹேமந்த மற்றும் மதீஷ பத்திரன ஆகியோர் களமிறங்க உள்ளனர்.
நாளை ஹம்பாந்தோட்டாவில் நடைபெறும் முதல் ஒருநாள் போட்டியில் இலங்கை ஆப்கானிஸ்தானை எதிர்கொள்ளும் போது, லெக் ஸ்பின்னர் துஷான் ஹேமந்த மற்றும் வேகப்பந்து வீச்சாளர் மதீஷ பத்திரனா ஆகியோர் முதல் ஒரு நாள் சர்வதேச அறிமுகத்தில் களமிறங்குவார்கள்.
வலது முழங்காலில் ஏற்பட்ட காயம் காரணமாக மூன்று போட்டிகள் கொண்ட தொடரில் முதல் இரண்டு ஒருநாள் போட்டிகளில் இருந்து விலகியுள்ள இலங்கையின் அதிவேக சுழற்பந்து வீச்சாளர் வனிந்து ஹசரங்க இல்லாமலேயே இலங்கை தொடக்க ஆட்டத்திற்குச் செல்லும்.
வனிந்து முதல் இரண்டு ஒருநாள் போட்டிகளில் விளையாடாததால் துஷான் ஹேமந்த சர்வதேச கிரிக்கெட்டில் அறிமுகமாகலாம்.
“வனிந்துவுக்கு காயம் இருப்பதால், துஷான் ஹேமந்தவுக்கு முதல் ஒருநாள் போட்டியில் களமிறங்குவதற்கான நல்ல வாய்ப்பு உள்ளது,” என்று இலங்கை வெள்ளை பந்து கேப்டன் தசுன் ஷனக சுட்டிக்காட்டினார்.
இரண்டு மூத்த சாதகர்களான திமுத் கருணாரத்ன மற்றும் ஏஞ்சலோ மேத்யூஸ் அணியில் சேர்க்கப்பட்டிருப்பது அணியின் சமநிலைக்கு ஒரு பெரிய ஊக்கமளிப்பதாகவும், அவர்கள் நீண்ட இன்னிங்ஸை எதிர்பார்க்கும் பட்சத்தில் அவர்களின் பங்களிப்பு பெரும் பங்கை வகிக்கும் என்றும் தசுன் கூறினார்.
திமுத் கருணார்த்னே மற்றும் ஏஞ்சலோ மேத்யூஸ் அணியில் சேர்க்கப்பட்டிருப்பது மிகப்பெரிய ஊக்கம். நாம் நீண்ட இன்னிங்ஸ் விளையாட வேண்டும் என்றால் அவர்களின் பங்களிப்பு முக்கிய பங்கு வகிக்கும். அவர்கள் சேர்க்கப்பட்டிருப்பது அணியை பலப்படுத்தியுள்ளது,” என்று தசுன் கூறினார்.
வேகப்பந்து வீச்சாளர் மதீஷா பத்திரனா நாளை தனது முதல் ஆட்டத்தில் களமிறங்குவார் என வெள்ளை பந்து கேப்டன் இளம் மலிங்காவையும் வெளிப்படுத்தினார். சமீபத்தில் முடிவடைந்த இந்தியன் பிரீமியர் லீக் 2023ல் சென்னை சூப்பர் கிங்ஸ் அணியுடன் வெற்றிகரமான ஆட்டத்திற்குப் பிறகு மதீஷா மீண்டும் இலங்கைக்கு திரும்பியுள்ளார். குறிப்பாக ஹம்பாந்தோட்டாவில் வேகப்பந்து வீச்சுக்கு ஏற்ற விக்கெட்டுகளில் அவர் தனது சிறப்பான ஆட்டத்தை தொடர விரும்புவார்.
ஜூன் 2, 4 மற்றும் 7 ஆகிய தேதிகளில் ஹம்பாந்தோட்டாவில் உள்ள எம்ஆர்ஐசி மைதானத்தில் ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் அணி மூன்று ஒருநாள் போட்டிகளில் பங்கேற்கிறது.
ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் கடைசியாக நவம்பர் 2022 இல் ஒருநாள் தொடருக்காக இலங்கைக்கு சுற்றுப்பயணம் செய்தது, அப்போது இரு அணிகளும் போட்டி போரில் ஈடுபட்டன. இலங்கைக்கு எதிரான முதல் ஒருநாள் போட்டியில் ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் அணி 60 ரன்கள் வித்தியாசத்தில் வெற்றி பெற்றது. இரண்டாவது போட்டியில் எந்த முடிவும் எட்டப்படாத நிலையில், மூன்றாவது ஒருநாள் போட்டியில் 4 விக்கெட்டுகள் வித்தியாசத்தில் வெற்றி பெற்று தொடரை சமன் செய்தது இலங்கை அணி.
இந்தத் தொடர் அம்பாந்தோட்டையில் சர்வதேச ஆண்கள் கிரிக்கெட் மீண்டும் தொடங்குவதைக் குறிக்கும், அந்த மைதானம் பிப்ரவரி 2020 இல் கடைசியாக ODI போட்டியை நடத்துகிறது.
News
Chinese Government Pledges Support for Sri Lanka’s Sports and Youth Development
Colombo: In a significant move towards strengthening sports and youth development in Sri Lanka, Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong met with Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumar Gamage, and Deputy Minister Eranga Gunasekara today (26) at the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
During the meeting, Ambassador Qi Zhenhong congratulated the newly appointed ministers and reaffirmed China’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s sports and youth programs. Discussions centered on enhancing bilateral cooperation and exploring actionable initiatives to uplift sports development in the country.
A key highlight of the discussions was China’s willingness to promote sports such as Tai Chi and Dragon Boat Racing in Sri Lanka. This initiative aligns with the broader vision of fostering international sports collaboration and expanding the sporting culture within the country.
This renewed partnership marks an important step in Sri Lanka’s sports development, paving the way for future investments and technical support to enhance local sporting infrastructure and training programs.
Stay tuned for more updates on this collaboration and its impact on Sri Lankan sports!
Football
Sri Lanka to Host the Prestigious 2025 SAFF Championship After 17 Years
Colombo: Sri Lanka has officially been granted the hosting rights for the 2025 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship, set to take place in June 2025. The decision marks a historic moment for Sri Lankan football, as the nation last hosted the tournament in 2008 alongside the Maldives.
The SAFF Championship is widely regarded as the “World Cup of South Asia,” bringing together the best footballing nations from the region. The 2025 edition will feature seven teams:
- India (Defending champions and most successful team)
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Maldives
- Nepal
- Sri Lanka (Host nation)
With the backing of home supporters, Sri Lanka will look to capitalize on this opportunity and aim for a deep run in the competition.
SAFF Championship: A Look at Past Editions and Winners
The SAFF Championship, first held in 1993, has seen 14 editions so far. India has been the most dominant team in the tournament’s history, winning a record 9 titles. The Maldives and Bangladesh have each won the tournament twice, while Sri Lanka claimed their only title in 1995, when they hosted the event in Colombo.
Here is a look at the past winners:
- India – 9 titles (1993, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2021, 2023)
- Maldives – 2 titles (2008, 2018)
- Bangladesh – 2 titles (2003, 2023)
- Sri Lanka – 1 title (1995)
Sri Lanka’s return as the host nation in 2025 gives them a golden opportunity to reclaim the championship after 30 years.
If executed well, the 2025 SAFF Championship could mark the beginning of a new era for Sri Lankan football, helping the nation rise again in South Asian football.
Can Sri Lanka make the most of this historic opportunity? The countdown to SAFF 2025 begins!
Cricket
Sri Lanka Masters Eye Glory in Masters Series – Can They Outshine India Masters?
Raipur, India – The Sri Lanka Masters have showcased an impressive performance in the ongoing Masters Series, finishing at the top of the points table after the group stage. With four wins in five matches, they head into the semi-finals as the team to beat. However, with India Masters in formidable form, a thrilling contest awaits cricket fans as the tournament nears its conclusion.
Sri Lanka Masters: Dominant in the Group Stage
Sri Lanka Masters have been in exceptional form, winning four out of their five matches and securing 8 points with a +1.4 net run rate (NRR). Their balanced squad, led by experienced players, has delivered consistently with both bat and ball.
Key Strengths
- Batting Unit: Kumar Sangakkara has been their standout batter, scoring 222 runs at an average of 55.50 with a strike rate of 164.44. His ability to anchor innings while maintaining a high run rate makes him a key player for the semi-finals.
- Bowling Attack: While Sri Lanka’s bowlers have been effective in restricting opposition teams, they will need to step up against stronger batting lineups in the knockout stage.
With their current form and experience, Sri Lanka Masters are strong contenders for the title. However, they must overcome tough competition, particularly from India Masters, to lift the trophy.
India Masters: A Formidable Challenger
India Masters have matched Sri Lanka’s performance, also winning four of their five matches with 8 points. However, their NRR of +1.036 places them in second position. Their batting and bowling units have been consistent, making them one of the most dangerous teams in the tournament.
Key Strengths
- Powerful Batting Lineup: India Masters boast explosive batters like Ben Dunk (237 runs, SR 217.43) and Lendl Simmons (277 runs, SR 188.44), both of whom have been in exceptional form. Their ability to score quickly could be a major threat to Sri Lanka.
- Strong Bowling Attack: Pawan Negi (7 wickets, economy 6.00) and Xavier Doherty (8 wickets) provide variety in spin, while Ravi Rampaul has been lethal with 9 wickets in just 3 matches.
Sri Lanka vs. India – A Potential Final?
Both Sri Lanka Masters and India Masters are favorites to reach the final if they overcome their respective semi-final opponents. With their balanced squads, experience, and match-winners, this could be a classic battle for the championship.
Key Factors for Sri Lanka to Win the Series:
✅ Sangakkara’s experience and ability to score big
✅ Bowlers stepping up against India’s aggressive batting lineup
✅ Capitalizing on India’s slightly weaker bowling attack
Road to the Trophy
- 1st Semi-Final: India Masters vs TBC – March 13
- 2nd Semi-Final: Sri Lanka Masters vs TBC – March 14
- Final: March 16 in Raipur
With Sri Lanka Masters leading the table, their chances of winning the title remain high. However, they must be at their best to overcome the strong challenge posed by India Masters.
🏏 Will Sri Lanka Masters go all the way, or will India emerge victorious? Stay tuned for an exciting finish!
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