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Players who missed the World Cup due to extraordinary reasons
- Devon Conway – He missed the 2021 finals due to hitting his bat.
The New Zealand wicket-keeper batsman was involved in one of the worst injuries in cricket history. Conway injured himself during the T20 World Cup 2021 semi-final against England on 10 November and was eventually ruled out of the final clash against Australia.
Chasing a target of 167, Conway was stumped by Jos Buttler off Liam Livingston. Conway was batting with 46 off 37 balls and New Zealand needed 72 more to win. Conway was clearly frustrated with himself and when he hit the bat with his right hand, despite the glove, he broke his finger.
A scan after the game confirmed a fractured finger and he was ruled out of the final due to a self-inflicted injury. Conway was consistent with 129 in six innings, but he missed the final against Australia due to a moment of frustration.
- Jofra Archer – Lost the World Cup due to a fish tank
The England fast bowler has been going through a tough spell due to injuries and has not played international cricket since March 2021. Archer is currently struggling with a recurrence of a broken bone in his lower back. But before that, he had to undergo two operations on his elbow.
But strangely, in January 2021, he injured a tendon in his right arm while cleaning a fish tank. During the scan, the England medical team found a small piece of glass, which was later surgically removed.
After surgery, Archer played in the state championship in July. But the issue with his right elbow was not over, which ultimately ruled him out of the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE and the 2021-22 Ashes. Archer has recently returned to nets training and is likely to make his comeback during England’s one-day tour of South Africa in February-March 2023.
- Jonny Bairstow – missed the World Cup because of golf
Bairstow, a must-win batsman in the England team, is not part of the England squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 after sustaining a fractured left leg following an accident on the golf course. A few days before the accident, he was named in the England squad for the 2022 T20 World Cup, but was eventually pulled out due to his injury.
Bairstow took to social media to reveal that on September 2 he slipped and injured his lower leg.
England can replace the likes of Alex Hales and Phil Salt, but Bairstow’s current form makes him indispensable for a tournament like the T20 World Cup.
අසාමාන්ය හේතූන් මත ලෝක කුසලාන මග හැරුණු ක්රීඩකයින්
- Devon Conway – ඔහු විසින් ඔහුගේ පිත්තට පහර දීම හේතුවෙන් 2021 අවසාන මහා තරගය මග හැරිණි.
නවසීලන්ත කඩුලු රකින පිතිකරුවා ක්රිකට් ඉතිහාසයේ බිහිසුණුම තුවාල සිදුවීමකට සම්බන්ධ විය. නොවැම්බර් 10 වැනිදා එංගලන්තයට එරෙහිව පැවති T20 ලෝක කුසලාන 2021 අවසන් පූර්ව තරගයේදී කොන්වේ තමාටම තුවාල සිදු වූ අතර අවසානයේ ඔහු ඕස්ට්රේලියාවට එරෙහි අවසන් ගැටුමෙන් ඉවත් විය.
ලකුණු 167ක ඉලක්කයක් හඹා යමින් සිටියදී ලියම් ලිවින්ග්ස්ටන්ගේ පන්දුවකට ජොස් බට්ලර්ගේ පන්දුවක් හමුවේ කොන්වේ ස්ටම්ප් කිරීමකට ලක්විය. කොන්වේ පන්දු 37කදී ලකුණු 46ක් ලබාගෙන පන්දුවට පහර දෙමින් සිටි අතර නවසීලන්තයට ජයග්රහණය සඳහා තවත් ලකුණු 72ක් අවශ්ය විය. කොන්වේ පැහැදිලිවම තමා ගැන කලකිරී සිටි අතර ඔහුගේ දකුණු අතෙන් පිත්තට පහර දුන් විට අත්වැසුම් තිබියදීත්, ඔහුගේ ඇඟිල්ල කැඩී ගියේය.
ක්රීඩාවෙන් පසු ස්කෑන් පරීක්ෂණයකින් ඔහුගේ ඇඟිල්ලේ අස්ථි බිඳීමක් තහවුරු වූ අතර ස්වයං-කරගත් තුවාලයක් හේතුවෙන් ඔහු අවසාන මහා තරගයෙන් ඉවත් විය. කොන්වේ ඉනිම හයක් තුළ ලකුණු 129ක් ලබා ගනිමින් ස්ථාවර මට්ටමක සිටි නමුත් ඔහුට ඔස්ට්රේලියාවට එරෙහිව අවසන් තරගය අහිමි වූයේ මොහොතක කලකිරීමක් හේතුවෙනි.
- Jofra Archer – මාළු ටැංකියක් නිසා ලෝක කුසලානය අහිමි විය
එංගලන්තයේ සුපිරි වේගපන්දු යවන්නා ආබාධ හේතුවෙන් දුෂ්කර කාල පරිච්ඡේදයක් පසුකරමින් සිටින අතර 2021 මාර්තු මාසයේ සිට ජාත්යන්තර ක්රිකට් ක්රීඩා කර නැත. Archer මේ වන විට ඔහුගේ යටි පතුලෙහි අස්ථි බිඳීමක් නැවත ඇතිවීම හේතුවෙන් අරගල කරමින් සිටී. නමුත් ඊට පෙර ඔහුගේ වැලමිට සම්භන්ධයෙන් සැත්කම් දෙකකට මුහුණ දීමට සිදු විය.
නමුත් අමුතු ආකාරයකට, 2021 ජනවාරි මාසයේදී මාළු ටැංකියක් පිරිසිදු කිරීමේදී ඔහුගේ දකුණු අතේ කණ්ඩරාවක් තුවාල විය. ස්කෑන් කිරීමේදී එංගලන්ත වෛද්ය කණ්ඩායමට කුඩා වීදුරු කැබැල්ලක් හමු වූ අතර පසුව එය ශල්යකර්මයකින් පසුව ඉවත් කරන ලදී.
ශල්යකර්මයෙන් පසුව, ආචර් ජූලි මාසයේදී ප්රාන්ත ශූරතාවලියට ක්රීඩා කළේය. නමුත් ඔහුගේ දකුණු වැලමිට සම්බන්ධ ප්රශ්නය අවසන් වූයේ නැත, එය අවසානයේ ඔහුව 2021 UAE හි පැවති T20 ලෝක කුසලානයෙන් සහ 2021-22 අළු බඳුනෙන් ඉවත් කළේය. ආචර් මෑතකදී දැල් පුහුණුවීම්වලට පැමිණ ඇති අතර 2023 පෙබරවාරි-මාර්තු මාසවල දකුණු අප්රිකාවේ පැවැත්වෙන එංගලන්ත එක්දින සංචාරයේදී ඔහුගේ නැවත පැමිණීමට ඉඩ ඇත.
- Jonny Bairstow – ගොල්ෆ් ක්රීඩාව නිසා ලෝක කුසලානය මඟ හැරිණී
එංගලන්ත කණ්ඩායමේ අවශයම පිතිකරුවෙකු වන Bairstow 2022 එළඹෙන T20 ලෝක කුසලානය සඳහා වන එංගලන්ත කණ්ඩායමේ කොටසක් නොවේ, ගොල්ෆ් පිටියේදී සිදු වූ හදිසි අනතුරක් හේතුවෙන් වම් පාදය කැඩී ගියේය. අනතුරට දින කිහිපයකට පෙර, ඔහු 2022 T20 ලෝක කුසලානය සඳහා වන එංගලන්ත සංචිතයට නම් කරන ලද නමුත් අවසානයේ ඔහුගේ ආබාධය හේතුවෙන් ඉවත් විය.
බෙයාර්ස්ටෝ මේ සම්බන්ධයෙන් සමාජ මාධ්ය සටහනක් තබා ඇති අතර සැප්තැම්බර් 2 වන දින ඔහු ලිස්සා ගොස් ඔහුගේ යටි පාදයට තුවාල වූ බව හෙළි කළේය.
එංගලන්තයට ඇලෙක්ස් හේල්ස් සහ ෆිල් සෝල්ට්ගේ වැනි ක්රීඩකයන් ආදේශනය කළ හැක, නමුත් Bairstow ගේ වර්තමාන ස්වරූපය ඔහු T20 ලෝක කුසලානය වැනි තරඟාවලියක් සදහා අත්යවශ්යම ක්රීඩකයෙකි.
அசாதாரண காரணங்களால் உலகக் கோப்பையை தவறவிட்ட வீரர்கள்
- டெவோன் கான்வே – 2021 இறுதிப் போட்டியை அவரது மட்டையைத் தாக்கியதால் தவறவிட்டார்.
நியூசிலாந்து விக்கெட் கீப்பர் பேட்ஸ்மேன் கிரிக்கெட் வரலாற்றில் மிக மோசமான காயம் ஒன்றில் சிக்கினார். நவம்பர் 10 அன்று இங்கிலாந்துக்கு எதிரான டி20 உலகக் கோப்பை 2021 அரையிறுதியின் போது கான்வே காயம் அடைந்தார், இறுதியில் ஆஸ்திரேலியாவுக்கு எதிரான இறுதி மோதலில் இருந்து வெளியேற்றப்பட்டார்.
167 என்ற இலக்கை துரத்திய கான்வே, லியாம் லிவிங்ஸ்டனின் பந்து வீச்சில் ஜோஸ் பட்லரால் ஸ்டம்பிங் செய்யப்பட்டார். கான்வே 37 பந்துகளில் 46 ரன்களுடன் பேட்டிங் செய்து கொண்டிருந்தார், நியூசிலாந்து வெற்றிக்கு இன்னும் 72 ரன்கள் தேவைப்பட்டது. கான்வே தன்னைப் பற்றி தெளிவாக விரக்தியடைந்தார், மேலும் அவர் தனது வலது கையால் மட்டையை அடித்தபோது, கையுறை இருந்தபோதிலும், அவர் தனது விரலை உடைத்தார்.
விளையாட்டிற்குப் பிறகு ஸ்கேன் செய்ததில் விரலில் எலும்பு முறிவு உறுதிசெய்யப்பட்டது, மேலும் அவர் சுயமாக ஏற்படுத்திய காயம் காரணமாக இறுதிப் போட்டியில் இருந்து வெளியேற்றப்பட்டார். கான்வே ஆறு இன்னிங்ஸ்களில் 129 ரன்களுடன் சீராக இருந்தார், ஆனால் ஒரு கணம் விரக்தியின் காரணமாக ஆஸ்திரேலியாவுக்கு எதிரான இறுதிப் போட்டியில் அவர் தவறவிட்டார்.
- ஜோஃப்ரா ஆர்ச்சர் – மீன் தொட்டியால் உலகக் கோப்பையை இழந்தார்
இங்கிலாந்து வேகப்பந்து வீச்சாளர் காயங்கள் காரணமாக கடுமையான எழுத்துப்பிழைகளை அனுபவித்து வருகிறார் மற்றும் மார்ச் 2021 முதல் சர்வதேச கிரிக்கெட்டில் விளையாடவில்லை. ஆர்ச்சர் தற்போது தனது கீழ் முதுகில் உடைந்த எலும்புடன் மீண்டும் போராடி வருகிறார். ஆனால் அதற்கு முன், அவரது முழங்கையில் இரண்டு அறுவை சிகிச்சைகள் செய்ய வேண்டியிருந்தது.
ஆனால் வித்தியாசமாக, ஜனவரி 2021 இல், மீன் தொட்டியை சுத்தம் செய்யும் போது அவரது வலது கையில் தசைநார் காயம் ஏற்பட்டது. ஸ்கேன் செய்ததில், இங்கிலாந்து மருத்துவக் குழு ஒரு சிறிய கண்ணாடித் துண்டைக் கண்டுபிடித்தது, பின்னர் அது அறுவை சிகிச்சை மூலம் அகற்றப்பட்டது.
அறுவை சிகிச்சைக்குப் பிறகு, ஆர்ச்சர் ஜூலை மாதம் மாநில சாம்பியன்ஷிப்பில் விளையாடினார். ஆனால் அவரது வலது முழங்கையின் பிரச்சினை முடிவடையவில்லை, இது இறுதியில் 2021 UAE இல் நடந்த T20 உலகக் கோப்பை மற்றும் 2021-22 ஆஷஸ் ஆகியவற்றிலிருந்து அவரை விலக்கியது. ஆர்ச்சர் சமீபத்தில் வலைகள் பயிற்சிக்குத் திரும்பினார், மேலும் பிப்ரவரி-மார்ச் 2023 இல் தென்னாப்பிரிக்காவில் இங்கிலாந்து ஒரு நாள் சுற்றுப்பயணத்தின் போது மீண்டும் வருவார்.
- ஜானி பேர்ஸ்டோ – கோல்ஃப் காரணமாக உலகக் கோப்பையைத் தவறவிட்டார்
இங்கிலாந்து அணியில் கட்டாயம் வெற்றி பெற வேண்டிய பேட்ஸ்மேனான பேர்ஸ்டோ, கோல்ஃப் மைதானத்தில் ஏற்பட்ட விபத்தில் இடது காலில் எலும்பு முறிவு ஏற்பட்டதால், 2022 டி20 உலகக் கோப்பைக்கான இங்கிலாந்து அணியில் இடம் பெறவில்லை. விபத்துக்கு சில நாட்களுக்கு முன்பு, அவர் 2022 டி 20 உலகக் கோப்பைக்கான இங்கிலாந்து அணியில் இடம் பெற்றார், ஆனால் இறுதியில் அவரது காயம் காரணமாக வெளியேற்றப்பட்டார்.
செப்டம்பர் 2 ஆம் தேதி அவர் தனது கீழ் காலில் தவறி விழுந்து காயம் அடைந்ததாக சமூக ஊடகங்களில் பேர்ஸ்டோ வெளிப்படுத்தினார்.
இங்கிலாந்து அலெக்ஸ் ஹேல்ஸ் மற்றும் பில் சால்ட் போன்றவர்களை மாற்ற முடியும், ஆனால் பேர்ஸ்டோவின் தற்போதைய வடிவம் அவரை டி20 உலகக் கோப்பை போன்ற போட்டிகளுக்கு இன்றியமையாததாக ஆக்குகிறது.
News
BALL BLASTER 2026: SRI LANKA’S BIGGEST SCHOOL FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT RETURNS BIGGER THAN EVER
24 Schools, 15 Venues and Three National Trophies as Ball Blaster Enters Its Third Year
COLOMBO — Ball Blaster, Sri Lanka’s premier school football tournament, is set to return in 2026 with its biggest edition yet, organized by Aasgard Sports (Private) Limited in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Schools Football Association and the Ministry of Education.
Now entering its third year, Ball Blaster has grown from 2023 with 20 schools into one of the country’s largest youth football events. The 2025 edition featured 16 schools competing across four groups, drawing national broadcast attention through Sri Lankan Sports TV and PEO TV. For 2026, the tournament expands significantly, with 24 schools set to compete across 15 venues nationwide, in a season spanning six weeks and 84 matches.
A NEW FORMAT: THREE TROPHIES, THREE CHAMPIONS
The standout feature of Ball Blaster 2026 is a new three-tier trophy format. Schools will be drawn into four groups of six, playing a round-robin group stage before advancing into one of three parallel championships based on their group finish: the Cup Trophy for group winners, the Bowl Trophy for runners-up, and the Plate Trophy for second runners-up. The format ensures every participating school remains in contention for a national title deep into the tournament.
All three championships will reach their conclusion on the same finals weekend, with third-place playoffs and grand finals for the Cup, Bowl and Plate trophies all being played at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.
“Ball Blaster has always been about giving young footballers a stage,” said a spokesperson for Aasgard Sports. “This year, we’re expanding that stage to every corner of the island, and making sure every school that takes part has something real to play for, right to the final whistle.”
BUILDING ON A STRONG 2025
Ball Blaster’s growth has been underpinned by strong sponsor support. The 2025 edition was backed by Lifebuoy as Title Sponsor, alongside Lemonade as Refreshing Partner and Sky Market Travels as Travelling Partner. Organizers say conversations are already underway with returning and new sponsors ahead of the 2026 season, as the tournament’s expanded scale — nationwide venues, a longer season and three separate finals — offers significantly greater visibility for partners.
BROADCAST AND COVERAGE
As in previous years, Ball Blaster 2026 will be broadcast live via Sri Lankan Sports TV and PEO Sports, with matches also available on YouTube and across Sri Lankan Sports TV’s digital platforms.
For sponsorship and partnership enquiries, contact: Pasindu Mihiranga Sri Lankan Sports TV | Aasgard Sports (Private) Limited 0726 85 18 18 marketing@srilankansportstv.com
www.srilankansportstv.com
Football
Jaswar Umar Hails FIFA Series as Turning Point for Sri Lankan Football
Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) President Jaswar Umar has described the inaugural FIFA Series in Colombo as a major milestone for the country’s football development, saying the tournament has given Sri Lanka renewed confidence and a stronger connection with the international game.
Umar, who has been involved in efforts to strengthen Sri Lankan football administration and development, said hosting the tournament demonstrated that developing football nations could compete on the global stage when given meaningful opportunities.
The FIFA Series, held in Colombo in March 2024, brought Sri Lanka together with Bhutan, Papua New Guinea and the Central African Republic. The four participating nations represented three different confederations, giving Sri Lanka an unusual opportunity to face teams with different playing styles.
Sri Lanka completed its campaign unbeaten, drawing 0-0 against Papua New Guinea and defeating Bhutan 2-0. Umar said the matches provided valuable experience for the national team and helped players adapt to different forms of international competition.

He stressed that the benefits extended beyond the football field. Sri Lankan officials involved in administration, technical operations, media, medical services and event management gained practical experience in organising matches to international standards.
The Racecourse Ground also received an important upgrade through assistance from FIFA’s Forward Programme. The renovation enabled the historic Colombo venue to host international football and created improved facilities for future events.
Umar said one of the most important achievements was bringing international football closer to Sri Lankan supporters. Young fans were able to watch national players compete against foreign opposition in their own city, helping to inspire a new generation.
He thanked FIFA and its President Gianni Infantino for supporting developing football nations.
According to Umar, the FIFA Series has left Sri Lanka with more than match results. It has provided international experience, stronger administrative capabilities, improved infrastructure and, most importantly, renewed belief in the future of Sri Lankan football.
Cricket
Dulani’s sparkling century powers Sri Lanka to thrilling victory
Imesha Dulani stole the spotlight with a sensational unbeaten century as Sri Lanka Women chased down a formidable target of 177 to register a convincing six-wicket victory over Pakistan Women in the first T20I worked off at Dambulla international Stadium.
Pakistan looked set for victory after posting a competitive 176 for 7 in their 20 overs. Captain Muneeba Ali gave the innings early momentum with a fluent 42 off 24 balls, while Shawaal Zulfiqar anchored the innings superbly with a brilliant 63 from 41 deliveries, striking 10 fours and a six. Eman Naseer added a valuable 21, while Ayesha Zafar and Saira Jabeen played aggressive cameos in the closing overs to push Pakistan to an above-par total.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Kavisha Dilhari leading the way with two dismissals. Chamudi Praboda, Sugandika Kumari and Kawya Kavindi chipped in with one wicket apiece, while disciplined fielding produced two crucial run-outs.
The chase belonged entirely to Dulani, who delivered the innings of the match. Displaying confidence, composure and a wide range of attacking strokes, she remained unbeaten on 101 from just 64 balls, smashing 17 boundaries and a six. Her innings combined elegance with controlled aggression, ensuring Sri Lanka stayed ahead of the required rate throughout the chase.
Captain Chamari Athapaththu provided the ideal platform with a sparkling 39 off 22 balls, adding 78 for the opening wicket before Nashra Sandhu broke the partnership. Although Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals in the middle overs, Dulani remained firmly in control, rotating the strike effectively before accelerating when it mattered most.
Kavisha Dilhari contributed 11 valuable runs, while Nilakshika Silva remained unbeaten on nine as Sri Lanka reached 177 for 4 in 19 overs, sealing victory with six balls to spare.
Pakistan spinner Nashra Sandhu finished with two wickets, but she could do little to halt Dulani’s memorable knock.
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