News
IPG comes forward as the Ground Rights Holder and the Broadcast Production Partner of one of Sri Lanka Cricket’s premier T20 domestic competition

The Innovative Production Group (IPG) wishes to announce that the company has come forward to support the SLC Skyexch Invitational T20 League. SLC, powered by Dafa News, is one of Sri Lanka Cricket’s premier domestic T20 competitions, as the tournament’s Ground Rights Holder and the Broadcast Production Partner.
With this partnership, the IPG will take steps to introduce International Standard Broadcast Technologies to help Sri Lanka Cricket Livestream the Tournament, globally, via its YouTube Channel and also telecast the matches in Sri Lanka via Siyatha TV Channel.
With this partnership, The SLC Skyexch Invitational T20 League which is set to commence on the 08th of August 2022 at the RPICS, Colombo with the participation of Sri Lanka’s top white ball cricketers, whom consists of both National and First Class players, will be the first such instance, a domestic cricket tournament will be telecasted with the use of international broadcast technologies.
The four-team competition, which the teams are named SLC REDS, SLC GREENS, SLC BLUES and SLC GREYS will be held from 08th to 15th of August 2022 and is conducted as part of Sri Lanka’s preparations for the upcoming T20 Asia Cup and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The matches will be held as Double Headers, with the first game starting at 3.00 pm and the next at 07.30 pm. The finals of the tournament will take place on the 15th of August at the same venue.
Chairman of the Tournament Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket, Mr. Samantha Dondawala stated: “The main intention of playing this tournament is to identify the correct combination for the Asia Cup and the World Cup that follows. The national players to play in these matches would have been selected from the Lanka Premier League however it was postponed due to the present situation in the country. Thereby, this tournament is being introduced to ensure that the selectors will have the opportunity of picking the right players.”
In the meantime, Chairman and Managing Director of the IPG Group, Mr. Anil Mohan was optimistic of the success of the first domestic tournament; the company has come forward to partner with Sri Lanka Cricket.
Chairman and Managing Director from IPG Group, Mr. Anil Mohan noted that: “This is the first time that the IPG group is conducting domestic cricket and we are beyond privileged to be working with SLC on domestic rights. The IPG group is looking forward to continuing a long-term relationship with the SLC in promoting high international quality of production.”
“The IPG group’s mission is to enhance the whole domestic league and we are glad to be a part of this event. We are keen on making it bigger and better as the IPG experience will improve the broadcast and production quality to a much greater extent. Furthermore, we would like to extend our utmost gratitude and thanks to the SLC for all the support rendered by them in making this event a success,” added Mr. Mohan.
The title sponsor of the tournament is Skyexch, is powered by Dafa News and the local partner for the tournament is Daraz. Media Partners of the tournament are Siyatha tv and Siyatha FM, while a live digital coverage will also be available on the SLC YouTube channel.
Football
Stafford vs. Colombo International: The Second Edition of the Big Match Kicks Off!
Football fever returns as Stafford International School and Colombo International School gear up for the second edition of their highly anticipated Big Match! This year, the rivalry intensifies with four matches across different age and gender categories:
✅ U15 Girls
✅ U15 Boys
✅ U20 Girls
✅ U20 Boys
🏆 Stafford International’s Rising Stars:
- U15 Girls: Defending TISSL U14 and Colombo SLSFA District champions, featuring standout players like Keshalee Ranatunga and Sonja Ratanayake (just 10 years old!).
- U15 Boys: All-Island U14 runners-up out of 462 schools, led by goalkeeper Yash Amarasekara, who was named Best U14 GK in Sri Lanka.
- U20 Girls & Boys: Both teams finished as TISSL runners-up, boasting stars like Raya Rikaz, Yumna Safraz, Adnaan Ameen, and Nidurshan Mohan.
🏆 Colombo International’s Key Players:
- U15 Girls: TISSL U16 runners-up, featuring top defender Khadeeja Niyas and striker Ozra.
- U20 Girls: TISSL U20 runners-up, with Fioni Dedhia named Goalkeeper of the Tournament.
- U20 Boys: Defending Big Match champions, looking to retain their title behind stars like Krishwen and Habib.
👀 Who will come out on top this time? Watch the action LIVE at the link below! 🎥👇
#BigMatch2025 #SchoolFootball #SriLankaFootball #StaffordVsCIS #RivalryRenewed
Cricket
Shammi Silva Re-Elected as Sri Lanka Cricket President for Fourth Consecutive Term
Shammi Silva has been re-elected as the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president for the 2025-27 term, marking his fourth consecutive tenure at the helm of the nation’s cricket governing body. Silva secured the position uncontested at the 64th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Colombo on Monday.
A Controversial Yet Dominant Tenure
Silva’s leadership has not been without controversy. His previous term saw a high-profile clash with former Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe in 2023, which led to an interim committee being appointed after Sri Lanka’s poor performance in the ICC ODI World Cup. This move resulted in ICC suspending SLC, which led to Sri Lanka losing the hosting rights for the U19 Men’s World Cup, which was later held in South Africa.
Despite these setbacks, Silva regained control after a court ruling reinstated his administration, and he was later appointed as the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in December 2023, replacing Jay Shah.
Challenges & Future Outlook
Sri Lanka Cricket has long been seen as a powerful and influential body, with internal politics often shaping its leadership. With financial mismanagement concerns highlighted in the Auditor General’s report, Silva’s administration faces the challenge of restoring credibility and ensuring better governance.
With the ICC ban lifted, Sri Lanka looks to rebuild its cricketing structure and improve performance on the international stage. The focus now shifts to upcoming bilateral series, the Asia Cup, and preparations for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.
Stay tuned for more updates on Sri Lanka Cricket and the latest in the world of sports!
Cricket
Stephen Fleming Defends MS Dhoni’s Batting Position Amid Criticism
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming has defended MS Dhoni’s late entry in the batting order, stating that the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman cannot play an extended innings at full intensity due to lingering knee concerns.
The 43-year-old Dhoni faced criticism after coming in at No. 9 during CSK’s 50-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Chepauk. In the next match against Rajasthan Royals on March 30, 2025, he batted at No. 7 when CSK required 54 off 25 balls but managed just 16 off 11 as his team fell short by six runs.
Fleming’s Explanation on Dhoni’s Role
Fleming emphasized that Dhoni carefully assesses the match situation before deciding when to bat.
“It’s all about timing. MS judges his body and situation. His knees aren’t what they used to be, so he can’t bat for 10 overs at full intensity. He will step in based on the game’s demands,” Fleming explained at the post-match press conference.
The CSK coach reiterated that Dhoni remains too valuable to the team for his leadership and wicketkeeping and that sending him in too early could be a strategic misstep.
“From around the 13th or 14th over, he assesses the situation and decides. He trusts other batters early on but steps up when needed.”
CSK’s Struggles in the Powerplay Cost Them the Match
Fleming also pinpointed CSK’s poor powerplay performance as a key reason for their loss against Rajasthan Royals. While RR blasted 79/1 in the powerplay, CSK only managed 42/1,
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