News
Sampath, Sujith and Kishan steers Lanka Cavaliers to a comfortable 93 run win against Thomian Masters.
M.H.Yakeem
Sampath Wickramarachchi, Sujith Perera scoring half centuries and a fine bowling spell by Kishan Dharmasena with a 5 wicket haul including a hat trick steered Lanka Cavaliers to a comfortable 93 run against Thomian Masters in a Masters 25 overs Cricket encounter played at the Colombo Colts Cricket ground, Colombo- 05 on the 27th of January 2024.
Lanka Cavaliers won the toss and took the opportunity to bat first, openers Varuna Waragoda and Sujith Perera got to a solid start with a 64 runs partnership for the opening stand, with the dismissal of Varuna Waragoda scoring 33 runs in 28 balls including 4 fours and the 2nd wicket falling at 67 runs on board, Thusitha Karunaratne joining the other opener Sujith Perera, the pair together steadied the innings and with the dismissal of Thusitha Karunaratne scoring 47 runs in 34 balls including 7 fours and Sujith Perera playng a magnificent innings scoring a well compiled 75 runs in 62 balls including 8 fours opted to retire. Sampath Wickramarachchi coming as the 3 down batter and a hurricane knock scoring 53 runs not out in 17 balls including 8 fours and 2 sixes and his half century coming in 15 balls along with 4 down batter Chaminda Rajapakse, the pair together took them past the 200 plus mark to see them to a commanding position in their 25th over.
Anura Bulankulame, Ranil Peiris and Ruwan Sirisrena with a wicket each was the pick of the bowlers for the Thomian Masters.
Thomian Masters in reply, opener Johann Peiris scoring a fluent 55 runs in 32 balls including 5 fours was associated in a 4th wicket partnership of 74 runs with Ranil Peiris, who scored 40 runs in 35 balls including 2 fours and 2 sixes, the duo’s contributions was the highlight of the Thomian innings, as the other batters dismissals fell at regular intervals, Thomian Masters were all out for a mere 129 runs in the 23rd over with Kishan Dharmasena capturing the last 3 wickets ( Hat trick ). Chaminda Rajapakse with 2 wickets, Renuka Nonis, Ravi Subasinghe, Varuna Waragoda capturing a wicket apiece were the other bowlers who excelled for Lanka Cavaliers.
Lanka Cavaliers – 222/3 in 25 overs
Varuna Waragoda 33, Sujith Perera 75 retired, Thusitha Karunaratne 47, Sampath Wickramarachchi 53 not out.
Thomian Masters – 129 all out in 23.4 overs
Johann Peiris 55, Ranil Peiris 40, Kishan Dharmasena 5/20, Chaminda Rajapakse 2/21
Football
AIFF Faces FIFA, AFC Ban Threat as October 30 Deadline Looms
Indian football is staring at yet another international suspension as FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have jointly warned the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to ratify its long-pending constitution by October 30, 2025, or risk a complete ban from world football.
In a strongly-worded two-page letter sent on Tuesday (August 26) to AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, FIFA and AFC expressed “profound concern” over the failure to finalise and implement a revised constitution, a matter pending before India’s Supreme Court since 2017.
If suspended, India’s national teams and clubs would be barred from all international competitions, while the country’s ambitious 2036 Olympic Games bid in Ahmedabad could also be thrown into uncertainty.
FIFA & AFC Ultimatum
The letter, signed by FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer Elkhan Mammadov and AFC Deputy General Secretary Vahid Kardany, set out three urgent requirements for the AIFF:
1. Obtain a definitive Supreme Court order approving the revised constitution.
2. Ensure full compliance with FIFA and AFC statutes.
3. Formally ratify the constitution at the next AIFF General Meeting.
Failure to comply, they warned, would trigger sanctions, including full suspension of AIFF membership.
Previous Suspension in 2022
This is not the first governance crisis to hit Indian football. In August 2022, FIFA suspended the AIFF for “third-party interference” after a court-appointed Committee of Administrators temporarily ran the federation. That ban lasted just two weeks, lifted only after fresh elections were held in which Kalyan Chaubey defeated football legend Bhaichung Bhutia.
Domestic Fallout – ISL in Crisis
The deadlock has already disrupted Indian football at the domestic level. The Indian Super League (ISL), India’s top-tier professional league, has been put “on hold” by Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the AIFF’s commercial partner, due to uncertainty over its Master Rights Agreement, which expires in December 2025.
At least three clubs have suspended operations or delayed salaries, while all 11 ISL clubs have warned of an “existential crisis.” Reports from FIFPRO further highlight cases of players’ contracts being terminated, leaving livelihoods at risk.
The Supreme Court of India will hear the matter again on August 28, a session that could determine the immediate future of the ISL and India’s football calendar.
What’s at Stake
If AIFF fails to meet the October deadline, India could lose:
• Participation in FIFA and AFC tournaments.
• Entry rights for national teams and clubs in international competitions.
• Momentum in its 2036 Olympics bid.
• Credibility with players, fans, and commercial partners.
For now, the football fraternity in India waits anxiously for the Supreme Court’s verdict and AIFF’s ability to steer through yet another governance storm
Football
Heritage Derby Trophy Goes to Hameed Al Husseinie College
Colombo – Hameed Al Husseinie College emerged victorious in the prestigious Heritage Derby Trophy football encounter against Zahira College, Maradana, securing a 3–1 win at the Colombo Racecourse grounds yesterday.
The match kicked off under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, adding special significance to this annual football rivalry.
Hameed Al Husseinie College took control early, leading 2–0 at halftime before sealing the victory with a third goal in the second half. Zahira College managed to pull one back, but it was not enough to challenge the dominant performance of the winners.
The trophy presentation was held soon after the final whistle, with the principals of both schools — Rizvi Marikkar of Zahira College and Mrs. Dain of Hameed Al Husseinie College — present to witness the celebrations.
This latest victory adds another chapter to the rich history of the Heritage Derby, further cementing Hameed Al Husseinie College’s reputation in school football.
Football
Exclusive: AFC Fines Sri Lankan Footballer Over “Free Palestine” Message
Colombo – June 13
Sri Lankan national footballer Mohamed Thilham, who recently made headlines after displaying a “PRAY FOR FREE PALESTINE” message on his undershirt during post-match celebrations, has now been officially penalized by international football authorities.
Following Sri Lanka’s 3-1 victory over Chinese Taipei in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers on June 10 at the Colombo Racecourse Stadium, Thilham—a non-playing substitute—unveiled the message, drawing both praise and criticism from various quarters.

⚠️ AFC Sanctions Player with USD 2,000 Fine
FIFA, in coordination with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), has now issued a formal disciplinary notice to the player, imposing a USD 2,000 fine. This letter, according to sources within the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), was sent addressing to Thilham, underscoring AFC stance on politically charged expressions at official matches.
According to FIFA’s Disciplinary Code, players are prohibited from displaying political, religious, or personal slogans during matches or official ceremonies. While Thilham’s gesture occurred after the final whistle, FIFA and AFC treat any action within the stadium environment as part of official conduct.
⚽ FFSL Under Scrutiny for Disciplinary Action
FFSL President Jaswar Umar previously stated that the act “was not authorized by the federation” and “violates international football disciplinary norms.” He also confirmed that the FFSL would take internal disciplinary action against the player.
However, this incident has reignited public debate over the role of athletes in social advocacy and the limits imposed by international sports law. While some supporters see Thilham’s actions as courageous and morally driven, others have raised concerns about the player’s career stability and future opportunities under increasing scrutiny.
📝 Editorial Insight
At Sri Lankan Sports TV, we initially chose to withhold the content of the message in our match coverage—out of responsibility to the player’s career and to respect global sports protocol. However, the message went viral after several social media users circulated the full image, seemingly with the intention of sparking controversy.
The resulting spotlight has unfortunately led to a formal penalty, underscoring the real-world consequences that athletes may face when international regulations intersect with personal conviction.
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