News

SAFF Women’s Championship 2022 and the SAFF U17 Championship 2022

Published

3 years ago

July 30, 2022

Editor

MEDIA RELEASE – SAFF

The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) held a draw ceremony for the SAFF Women’s Championship 2022 and the SAFF U17 Championship 2022 at the BFF House, Dhaka, on Saturday.

SAFF General Secretary Mr Anwarul Huq and Bangladesh Football Federation General Secretary Mr Abu Nayeem Shohag conducted the draw amidst a program attended by journalists and officials of the participating member associations who were present online.

The SAFF Women’s Championship which is scheduled to take place in Nepal from 6-19^th September has all seven member associations of the federation taking part in the competition, while the SAFF U17 Championship which will take place from 5-14^th September has six teams participating apart from Pakistan.

The seeding for the SAFF Women’s Championship was done on basis of the latest FIFA Women’s Ranking published on 17^th June which has India in the 56^th rank, followed by Nepal on 101, Bangladesh on 146, and Sri Lanka on 149, the Maldives on 153 and Bhutan on 172. Pakistan is without a ranking due to its absence from international football for more than two years.

The draw was done as per the mechanism mentioned below:

Country Pots are decided in accordance with the current FIFA Ranking, except for the Host who will be considered along with the Top Seeded Team.
The First Country Pot will contain the Host country and the Top Seeded Team.
The Second Country Pot will contain the Second and Third Seeded Teams.
The Third Country Pot will contain the Fourth and Fifth Seeded Teams.
For the last Seeded Team, only a Ball will be drawn from the Group Pot to determine the allocation.

The SAFF Women’s Championship will have the total number of teams divided into two groups, with group ‘A’ having 4 teams and group ‘B’ having 3 teams. It shall have 12 matches, including 9 league matches, 2 semi-finals and 1 final.

Defending champion India, seeded in Group ‘A’, drew Bangladesh, Maldives and Pakistan, while host Nepal, seeded in Group B, drew Sri Lanka and Bhutan.

Likewise, the seeding of the team for the SAFF U17 Championship was also done on the basis of the latest FIFA Men’s Ranking published on 23^rd June.

The draw was done as per the following procedure:

Country Pots are decided in accordance with the current FIFA Ranking, except for the Host

who will be considered along with the Top Seeded Team.

The First Country Pot will contain the Host country and the Top Seeded team.
The Second Country Pot will contain the Second and Third Seeded Teams.
The Third Country Pot will contain the Fourth and Fifth Seeded Teams.

The SAFF U17 Championship see a total of 9 matches, including 6 league matches, 2 semi-finals and 1 final.

Host team Sri Lanka, seeded in Group ‘A’, drew Maldives and Bangladesh, while Group ‘B’ seeded team India drew Nepal and Bhutan.

Cricket

Kusal Mendis Falls Short in High-Stakes IPL Eliminator Clash

Published

2 hours ago

May 31, 2025

Editor

Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis failed to rise to the occasion during a crucial IPL 2025 Eliminator as Gujarat Titans fell short in their chase against Mumbai Indians at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in New Chandigarh.

Chasing a steep target of 229, Gujarat Titans needed early momentum. While opener Sai Sudharsan led the charge with a composed 80 off 49 deliveries, Kusal Mendis—expected to play a key supporting role—could not live up to expectations on this competitive stage.

Mendis, who had the platform to make an impact, started aggressively with two sixes in his 10-ball 20 but threw away his wicket in an uncharacteristic manner—getting out hit wicket to Mitchell Santner. In a high-pressure match where composure was vital, Mendis’s dismissal was a major setback for GT, stalling their momentum during a promising phase of the innings.

This was an opportunity for Mendis to demonstrate consistency and reliability at the highest level of franchise cricket, especially with the eyes of selectors and fans fixed on performances under pressure. However, the lack of game awareness and a reckless approach led to a soft exit at a crucial moment.

GT eventually managed 208/6, falling short by 20 runs. With Mendis’s early exit, the middle order was left exposed to the mounting run rate, and despite brief resistance from Washington Sundar and Rahul Tewatia, the chase fizzled out.

While Mendis has shown flashes of brilliance in previous matches, this performance serves as a reminder of the demands of knockout-stage cricket. With playoffs being the toughest test of mental and technical strength, Sri Lanka’s white-ball star must tighten his game to deliver when it matters most.

News

Awareness Media Briefing on New Sports Regulations

Published

1 day ago

May 30, 2025

Editor

A special media briefing on the new regulations under the Sports Act was held on May 30, 2025, at the Department of Government Information, with the aim of raising public awareness on the upcoming changes to Sri Lanka’s sports governance framework.

The event featured key officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, including:

Sunil Kumara Gamagedara – Minister of Youth and Sports
Sugath Thilakaratne – Deputy Minister of Sports
Aruna Bandara – Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports
Shemal Fernando – Director General of Sports
Priyantha Ekanayake – Chairman, National Sports Council

These leaders addressed the media on the impact, scope, and enforcement of the new regulations, highlighting their importance in ensuring transparency, accountability, and modernization in Sri Lanka’s sports sector.

Cricket

Nuwan Thushara Shines as RCB Storms into IPL 2025 Final

Published

2 days ago

May 30, 2025

Editor

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) booked their place in the grand finale of IPL 2025 with an emphatic 8-wicket victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 2, chasing down 102 runs in just 10 overs. The match, held in Ahmedabad, saw RCB continue their dominant form in the playoffs, with Sri Lanka’s very own Nuwan Thushara making his presence felt on the biggest T20 franchise stage.

Thushara, who has been a consistent figure in RCB’s bowling attack, picked up a crucial wicket in the Qualifier 1 against Lucknow Super Giants and has steadily built a reputation as a reliable powerplay bowler. His unique slingy action and accuracy have made him a fan favourite in Bengaluru and among Sri Lankan cricket fans. Although he took just 1 wicket in the latest game, his economical spells have contributed significantly to RCB’s campaign.

RCB’s victory against PBKS came on the back of a brilliant bowling effort, bundling Punjab out for a mere 101. RCB’s top order made light work of the target, finishing the chase with 60 balls to spare – the most dominant playoff win in IPL history in terms of balls remaining.

Sri Lanka’s IPL participation this year has been headlined by Nuwan Thushara, whose breakthrough season is setting the tone for more Lankan stars to shine in the league. His performance is also a testament to the growing impact of Sri Lankan pace bowlers in franchise cricket worldwide.

RCB will now face either Gujarat Titans or Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2025 Final on June 3rd at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Thushara is expected to play a key role as RCB aims to secure their maiden IPL title.

As the cricketing world gears up for a blockbuster final, Sri Lankan fans will be cheering on Thushara, hoping he brings IPL glory back to Bengaluru – and pride to Sri Lanka.