Cricket
Navin Dissanayake Concedes Error Over 2015 Sri Lanka Cricket Election
Former Sports Minister Navin Dissanayake has admitted that his decision in 2015 to cancel the Sri Lanka Cricket elections and appoint an Interim Committee was a serious mistake. The move, which blocked Nishantha Ranatunga from becoming president, has long been debated in cricketing circles, and Dissanayake’s recent reflection has reignited discussion about missed opportunities in the sport’s governance.
In a candid post on X, Dissanayake acknowledged that he should have supported Ranatunga, who served as SLC Secretary from 2009 to 2015. That period is widely regarded as one of the most successful eras in Sri Lankan cricket, with the national team reaching multiple finals and securing major titles. “In hindsight I should have backed Nishantha and ensured he won the election without problems with the ICC,” Dissanayake wrote, admitting regret over his decision. He revealed that despite warnings from advisors that the International Cricket Council would not approve an Interim Committee, he went ahead with the appointment, leading to two years of negotiations over reforms. He also pointed to political interference at the time, saying the environment did not allow him to support Ranatunga’s election.
Ranatunga’s tenure as Secretary coincided with a golden run for Sri Lanka. Between 2009 and 2015, the team reached the finals of the 2009 T20 World Cup, the 2011 Cricket World Cup, and the 2012 T20 World Cup, before finally clinching the 2014 T20 World Cup and the 2014 Asia Cup. Serving under presidents DS de Silva, Upali Dharmadasa, and Jayantha Dharmadasa, Ranatunga was credited with a steady and effective administrative role that helped guide the team through this remarkable period.
Dissanayake’s admission comes at a time when Sri Lankan cricket is once again under scrutiny, following a disastrous campaign at the ongoing T20 World Cup. His remarks have reopened old wounds and revived questions about what might have been had Ranatunga been elected in 2015. With the sport facing another crossroads, the former minister’s reflection underscores the long-standing challenges of governance and political interference in cricket administration, and the lingering sense of opportunities lost.
Cricket
SLC Postpones Domestic Cricket Tournaments Due to Adverse Weather
Sri Lanka Cricket has announced the postponement of all its scheduled domestic cricket tournaments following an assessment of prevailing weather conditions across the country.
The decision affects several key competitions that were due to commence today, including the Major Club T20 Tournament, Tier B Club T20 Tournament, and the Governors Trophy tournament.
According to SLC, the move was taken to ensure the safety of players, officials, and support staff, while also maintaining the quality of playing conditions amid continued unfavorable weather.
Tournament organizers stated that revised schedules for the affected competitions will be released in due course after further evaluation of weather forecasts and ground conditions.
Cricket
Sri Lanka Set for White-Ball Leadership Change as Kusal Mendis Emerges Favourite
Sri Lanka Cricket is reportedly preparing for a major leadership overhaul in the national white-ball teams, with Kusal Mendis tipped to become captain of both the ODI and T20I sides ahead of the upcoming West Indies tour.
According to a report by The Sunday Times, the experienced wicketkeeper-batter is expected to replace Charith Asalanka as ODI captain and take over the T20I leadership from Dasun Shanaka.
The reported decision comes as Sri Lanka seeks to strengthen its limited-overs structure and build momentum ahead of a packed international schedule. Cricket officials are believed to view Mendis as a dependable senior figure capable of guiding a relatively young squad through the next phase of development.
Having represented Sri Lanka for several years across all three formats, Mendis has established himself as one of the team’s key performers in white-ball cricket. His experience and consistency are expected to play a crucial role if the appointment is confirmed.
Meanwhile, the report stated that Dhananjaya de Silva will continue to lead the Test side, ensuring stability in the longer format.
Sri Lanka Cricket has yet to make an official announcement regarding the captaincy changes.
Cricket
Angelo Mathews sparks debate over England’s proposed Test tour reductions
Former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has strongly criticised reports that England may reduce future Test tours of Sri Lanka to a single match, warning that such a move risks undermining the fairness and integrity of the World Test Championship structure.
According to reports, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is reviewing its Future Tours Programme, with discussions suggesting that overseas red-ball series against nations such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh could be trimmed to just one Test, alongside white-ball fixtures. The shift is being linked to scheduling pressures and a push to prioritise longer home series against top-tier opposition.
We should not play one off test with anyone! If any country doesn’t want to play more than one so be it! There’s nothing called bigger nations and test status is equal to all test playing nations .You can’t have 1 team playing 20 games and another playing 10 games in the same…
— Angelo Mathews (@Angelo69Mathews) May 9, 2026
However, Mathews has pushed back firmly against the idea, arguing that Test cricket must not be reshaped around commercial convenience or unequal participation between nations.
“We should not play one off test with anyone! If any country doesn’t want to play more than one so be it!” Mathews said, expressing clear frustration at the proposal.
He further stressed that all Test nations must be treated equally within the format, warning against creating an imbalance in match opportunities across the championship cycle.
“There’s nothing called bigger nations and test status is equal to all test playing nations,” he said.
Mathews also questioned the logic of restructuring series length while maintaining a unified global competition, pointing out the contradiction in workload and fairness.
“You can’t have 1 team playing 20 games and another playing 10 games in the same championship cycle!” he added.
His strongest criticism came when addressing the reasoning behind the proposed changes, which have been partly linked to revenue generation and broadcast appeal.
“Generating revenue and keeping test cricket alive is two different things and you should not mix up the two!” Mathews said, drawing a clear line between financial priorities and the preservation of the longest format.
The reported ECB discussions come amid wider debates within the International Cricket Council (ICC) over potential reforms to the World Test Championship, including proposals to expand participation and possibly allow single-Test series to contribute to standings for the first time.
The ICC is expected to review the proposals in upcoming meetings, with the future structure of Test cricket under increasing scrutiny as scheduling demands continue to grow across formats.
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