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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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Sri Lanka Cricket Denies Financial Crisis Claims Amid Transformation Committee Appointment

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Sri Lanka Cricket has firmly rejected recent media reports claiming that the organization is facing a financial crisis following the appointment of the Cricket Transformation Committee, stating that such allegations are “entirely false and misleading.”

In an official clarification, SLC emphasized that the Cricket Transformation Committee was appointed by the Hon. Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs under the powers granted by Sections 32 and 33 of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973, as amended.

According to SLC, once an order is issued under Section 32 of the Sports Law, the powers, administration, management, and control of the affairs and assets of the relevant sports body are legally transferred to the committee appointed by the Minister.

The organization further noted that the duly appointed Transformation Committee is fully authorized to oversee and manage all affairs of Sri Lanka Cricket, including its financial operations and obligations, until a new Executive Committee is elected.

SLC also pointed out that the appointment of the committee has already been officially published in the Government Gazette, thereby granting it full legal authority to act on behalf of the organization in all administrative and financial matters.

Rejecting claims of financial instability, Sri Lanka Cricket reiterated that its operations continue without disruption. The organization stated that all day-to-day activities, including financial and administrative functions, are proceeding smoothly under the supervision of the Transformation Committee.

SLC further assured stakeholders that all payments to suppliers, service providers, employees, players, and other parties continue to be settled on time, with no interruption to the organization’s commitments.

The statement was issued in response to growing speculation in sections of the media regarding the financial status of Sri Lanka Cricket after the recent administrative changes.

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Sri Lanka, India to Clash in Two-Test Series in August

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Sri Lanka and India are set to play a two-match Test series between August 15 and 27 as part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle.

Although the official schedule is yet to be announced, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has reserved a two-week window for the series following the conclusion of the Lanka Premier League on August 9. Discussions between SLC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are continuing to finalise the venues and match dates.

The proposed tour was initially expected to include three Twenty20 Internationals as well, but there has been no confirmation regarding those matches. The T20 games were originally planned as a fundraising initiative for victims affected by Cyclone Ditwah last year.

Meanwhile, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia is currently in Sri Lanka as part of an International Cricket Council delegation reviewing recent developments in Sri Lanka Cricket administration. The Sri Lankan government recently dissolved the previous SLC body and appointed an interim Sri Lanka Cricket Transformation Committee.

Cricket scheduling remains challenging for India due to a packed international calendar later this year. India are expected to tour Bangladesh in September for a white-ball series, although the tour is still uncertain after being postponed previously because of political tensions between the two nations.

India also have commitments against West Indies and Afghanistan later in the year, along with the Asian Games in Nagoya scheduled from September 9 to October 4.

India’s international season resumes in June with a Test series against Afghanistan before tours of Ireland, England and Zimbabwe.

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ICC Delegation Holds Key Talks With President on Cricket Reforms

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Senior representatives of the International Cricket Council (ICC) met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo yesterday as discussions intensified over the future of cricket administration in Sri Lanka.

The ICC delegation, which includes Imran Khwaja and Devajit Sakia, is currently in the country following recent changes within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Their visit comes amid growing attention on governance reforms and the restructuring of the national cricket administration.

During their stay, ICC officials also held meetings with members of the newly appointed SLC administration at the board’s headquarters, where discussions focused on restoring stability and strengthening the management framework of Sri Lankan cricket.

The latest developments follow the appointment of a nine-member Cricket Transformation Committee by Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage after the resignation of the previous SLC leadership.

The committee, chaired by Eran Wickremaratne, has been entrusted with overseeing the administration of the sport and implementing a series of reforms until new elections are conducted.

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