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Lahiru, Chamika, Milan receive maiden call up for test series

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Afghanistan’s tour of Sri Lanka 2024

Sri Lanka has named their 16-member squad for the test match, including newcomers Lahiru Udara, Milan Ratanayake, and Chamika Gunasekara. Alongside these fresh faces, experienced players like Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, and Dinesh Chandimal will also be part of the squad.

The selection committee has focused on strengthening the batting lineup by including Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, and Dimuth Karunaratne. This will provide the team with more firepower.

In terms of the bowling attack, Asitha Fernando will lead the pace alongside Vishwa Fernando and Kasun Rajitha. Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis will handle the spin department as the leggie and off-spinner, respectively.

Notably, Lasith Embuldeniya and Akila Dhananjaya have been left out of the squad for this series.

This test series will also mark a new era for Sri Lanka under the captaincy of 32 year old Dananjaya de Silva.

On the other hand, Afghanistan officially announced their squad to face Sri Lanka on Monday (29).
They have included four uncapped players, including Noor Ali Zadran, Zia-ur-Rehman, Mohammad Ishaaq, and Naveed Zadran.

However, their star player Rashid Khan will miss the series due to his ongoing rehabilitation process after surgery.

Afghanistan’s last test match was against Bangladesh in June 2023, where they suffered a heavy defeat. They have excluded Karim Janat and Amir Hamza for the test against Sri Lanka but retained their strong batting lineup, including Hashmatullah Shahidi, Ibrahim Zadran, Abdul Malik, and Rahmat Shah.

This will be Afghanistan’s first test match against Sri Lanka, as they have only played seven tests since their debut in 2018. In addition to the test match, their tour will also include three ODIs and T20Is.

Sri Lanka Probable test cricket  Squad (subject to approval  by the sports Minister): Dhananjaya de Silva (capt), Kusal Mendis (V.capt), Dimuth Karunaratne, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Sadeera Samarawickrema, Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis, Lahiru Udara, Prabath Jayasuriya, Asitha Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Ramesh Mendis, Vishwa Fernando, Chamika Gunasekara, Milan Ratnayake

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Shammi Silva Re-Elected as Sri Lanka Cricket President for Fourth Consecutive Term

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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!

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Stephen Fleming Defends MS Dhoni’s Batting Position Amid Criticism

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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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Inaugural ‘Battle of Green’ Set to Ignite a New School Cricket Rivalry

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Cricket enthusiasts in Mirigama and Giriulla are in for an exciting showdown as D.S. Senanayake College, Mirigama, and Wickramshila National School, Giriulla, prepare to launch their first-ever “Battle of Green” big match.

This historic encounter will take place at the Mirigama Public Grounds, marking the beginning of a thrilling annual rivalry between the two schools. Fans from both towns are expected to gather in large numbers, adding to the electric atmosphere of this inaugural clash.

The introduction of the Battle of Green is a significant milestone for school cricket in the region, providing a platform for young cricketers to showcase their talent while fostering sportsmanship and competitive spirit.

Stay tuned for match updates, player insights, and exclusive coverage on Sri Lankan Sports TV.

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