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Lanka Cavaliers in a six wicket win against MCA Committee 

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Lanka Cavaliers registered a sixth win against MCA Committee,  in a Masters 25 overs Cricket encounter, played at the MCA ground on 13 Sunday 2023. 

This is the 19th annual Cricket encounter between the two teams,  MCA Committee took the first lease of the wicket,  openers Namal Seneviratne and Tharindra Kaluperuma, the pair together added 43 runs for the first wicket with Namal Seneviratne scoring a valuable 36 runs and Tharindra Kaluperuma , scoring 16 runs and useful contributions from one down batter P.K. Abeygunasekera scoring 27 runs and two down batter Thushan Amarasuriya scoring 21 runs, kept the board ticking.  With the dismissals of these four batters, and other wickets falling at regular intervals, MCA Committee were all out for 142 runs in 24.4 overs, the only middle-order batter to enter the double figures was Mahesh Wijewardena scoring 12 runs.  Krishan Dharmasena claiming 4 scalps, Mahesh Wijenayake,  claiming 3 scalps, and N. Dabare and Ravi Subasinghe sharing a wicket apart,  were the pick of the bowlers. 

Lanka Cavaliers chasing this total lost an early wicket at the score at one run. Vajira Wijegunawardena and one down batter Varuna Waragoda, scoring 12 runs and 16 runs respectively, Lanka Cavaliers at one stage were 3 wickets down for 32 runs. Sanjaya Attanayake along with Nalliah Devarajan, the pair together added 70 runs for the fourth wicket and with the dismissal of Nalliah Devarajan,  who contributed with 20 runs, Riyaz Farouk joining Sanjaya Attanayake,  took them past the winning total with Sanjaya Attanayake scoring a hurricane knock of 65 runs not out including 4 four and 4 sixes in 38 balls and Riyaz Farouk playing a solid inning, supporting Sanjaya Attanayake scoring a gallant 23  runs not out including 3 fours in 12 balls, got Lanka Cavaliers home with 7 overs to spare. Anusha Perera claiming 2 wickets, Lakmal De Silva and Duminda Pinto with a wicket each was the pick of the bowlers. 

Scores 

MCA Committee  – 142 runs all out in 24.4 overs 

Namal Seneviratne 36, Tharindra Kaluperuma 16, P.K  Abeygunasekera 27, Thushan Amarasuriya 21, Mahesh Wijewardena 12, Krishan Dharmasena 4/25, Mahesh Wijenayake 3/18,’Ravi Subasinghe 1/24, N. Dabare 1/15

Lanka Cavaliers  – 143 / 4 in 18 overs 

Vajira Wijegunawardena 12, Varuna Waragoda 16, Nalliah Devarajan 20, Sanjaya Attanayake 65 not out, Riyaz Farouk 23 not out, Anusha Perera 2/21, Lakmal De Silva 1/19, Duminda Pinto 1/23

Lanka Cavaliers Skipper, Nalliah Devarajan with the Trophy. 

Cricket

Sachithra Senanayake Indicted in Landmark Match-Fixing Case Under Sri Lanka’s Anti-Corruption Law

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Former Sri Lankan cricketer Sachithra Senanayake has been formally indicted before the Hambantota High Court, marking a historic first in Sri Lanka’s efforts to criminalize corruption in sports. The charges stem from an alleged match-fixing attempt during the 2020 Lanka Premier League (LPL), making Senanayake the first player to face prosecution under Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Offences Related to Sports Act No. 24 of 2019.

Senanayake, currently out on bail, is accused of attempting to influence Colombo Kings player Tharindu Ratnayake to underperform during the tournament. The incident reportedly occurred via a WhatsApp message, which was later flagged by a local anti-corruption officer, prompting an official investigation in 2020.

The case falls under the landmark legislation introduced in 2019 by then Sports Minister Harin Fernando, which criminalizes match-fixing and related offenses in the country. If convicted, Senanayake could face a prison term of up to 10 years, a fine reaching Rs. 100 million, or both.

The indictment signals a serious shift in Sri Lanka’s approach to tackling corruption in sports. Authorities hope this high-profile case will serve as a strong deterrent against similar offenses in the future.

Senanayake, once a celebrated off-spinner and a member of Sri Lanka’s victorious 2014 ICC T20 World Cup squad, now faces the grim prospect of being remembered not for his achievements on the field, but for his role in one of Sri Lanka’s most significant match-fixing scandals.

As the case unfolds, it casts a spotlight on the broader issue of corruption in sports and reinforces the urgent need for integrity, vigilance, and transparent governance across all levels of competition in Sri Lanka

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Cricket

Harbhajan Singh Criticizes Jayawardene and Malinga for Over-Involvement in MI Dugout During IPL Qualifier

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In a surprising turn of events during IPL 2025 Qualifier 2, cricket legend and former Mumbai Indians player Harbhajan Singh has voiced concern over what he termed “excessive involvement” by Mahela Jayawardene and Lasith Malinga during Mumbai Indians’ defeat against Punjab Kings.

Speaking on his YouTube channel after MI’s seven-wicket loss at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Harbhajan took issue with the coaching staff’s frequent instructions from the dugout — especially during tense moments when MI bowlers were under pressure.

Too many signals, too much talking — even with someone like Jasprit Bumrah, who knows exactly what he’s doing,” Harbhajan remarked. “At times, you need a calm and collected environment, especially during high-pressure games. Coaches should guide, not command every move from the sidelines.

Punjab Kings chased down a formidable target of 204, with captain Shreyas Iyer anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 87 to secure a place in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Despite Mumbai posting a solid total, their bowlers failed to contain the opposition — a point that Harbhajan feels may have been worsened by the atmosphere in the MI dugout.

Jayawardene, MI’s Head of Global Performance, and Malinga, the bowling coach, were both seen actively engaging with players during the game, a move Harbhajan believes may have unintentionally undermined the confidence of seasoned campaigners like Bumrah.

I’ve been part of that setup. The coaching staff means well, but showing visible desperation can impact player morale,

Harbhajan added.

With this loss, Mumbai Indians miss out on a shot at their sixth IPL title, while discussions surrounding the balance between guidance and over-coaching during matches are sure to continue

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Football

Fouzul Hameed Calls for Urgent Reforms in Sri Lankan Football: “Enough is Enough”

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In a powerful and emotional statement, Fouzul Hameed — veteran football advocate, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the AC Milan Academy in Colombo — has delivered a scathing critique of Sri Lanka’s football administration, calling for immediate reforms to rescue the sport from what he describes as “chronic mismanagement and total collapse.

In a candid interview with Serendib News 🔗 Source, Hameed, who also captained Zahira College’s football team during his school days, expressed frustration over the decline of Sri Lankan football — both at grassroots and national levels.

“This is not personal—it’s a wake-up call. Especially at the school level, if we build a proper system, we might finally see decent results,”

Hameed emphasized.

No Future in Football” – A Harsh Reality

Hameed admitted that he now encourages players to focus on their education instead of football due to the lack of career prospects in the sport. He lamented that football has become an elite pastime hijacked by individuals with no understanding or passion for the game.

There’s no future in it right now—no careers, no livelihood,” he said. “Talent doesn’t matter anymore. Football is now controlled by politics and greed.

School Football in Crisis

His strongest words were reserved for the school football system, which he described as being in complete disarray.

Our school system is a disaster. There’s no coaching, no nurturing of talent, and no proper calendar. Finals are played under harsh conditions, without basic facilities like medical support or crowd control.

Comparing football to the glamor of school rugby and cricket, Hameed pointed out how football is marginalized despite having deep roots and mass appeal.

Look at the attention rugby and cricket get. Meanwhile, school football finals happen in near silence. It’s disrespectful.

A Broken Federation

Hameed criticized the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) for its failure in leadership and planning.

The wrong people are running the game. They have no playing background, no vision, no strategy — they’re in it for the titles and benefits.

Highlighting Zahira College’s legacy of producing nearly 100 national players, he said that even his alma mater may withdraw from tournaments due to poor planning and conditions.

Give us one tournament and a proper venue — we’ll show you how it’s done.

Call to Clean House

Calling on the Ministry of Sports and the President of Sri Lanka, Hameed demanded a complete overhaul of the football governing body.

Football can unite this country, but it needs leaders with values and professionalism. We need people who genuinely care about the sport.

He referenced Sri Lanka’s recent humiliating 8-0 loss to India and the issue of national players wearing fake jerseys due to budgetary issues, calling it “a national disgrace.”

Final Word

This is not just a game — it’s identity, dignity, and hope. But it’s being destroyed by incompetence. Enough is enough.

Fouzul Hameed’s passionate appeal reflects a broader concern shared by players, fans, and former athletes alike — that Sri Lankan football is long overdue for reform, and that real change must begin with honest leadership and grassroots investment

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