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Shanaka, Chandimal, Mathews stars as Kandy Falcons secure six-wicket win over Dambulla Sixers to kick off 2024 Lanka Premier League with a win

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Kandy Falcons, the defending champions, began the 2024 Lanka Premier League season with a six-wicket victory over the Dambulla Sixers at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Monday, thanks to contributions from Dasun Shanaka, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews.

Dambulla, after being put in to bat by the Falcons, first posted a respectable 179-4 from their 20 overs. In reply the home side achieved the target with 16 balls to spare.

Earlier, Mark Chapman from New Zealand played a crucial unbeaten knock of 91 runs off 61 balls, which included eight fours and four sixes. Chamindu Wickramsinghe, an impressive young player from Kandy, showcased his talent in front of his home crowd by contributing 62 runs off 42 balls, with four fours and three sixes.

The duo shared an unbroken partnership of 154 runs for the fifth wicket in just 95 balls, helping Dambulla reach a competitive total of 179 for 4.

Dasun Shanaka was the standout bowler for the Falcons, picking up 3-20 in his four overs.

During the pursuit, despite an early dismissal of Fletcher for a duck, the Falcons reached 183-4 in 17.2 overs.

Opening batsman Dinesh Chandimal top-scored with a quick 65 off 40 balls, including six fours and three sixes.

Shanaka and Angelo Matthews finished the game with 46* off 15 balls and 37* off 20 balls, respectively. The pair shared an unbeaten 72-run partnership for the fifth wicket, guiding Kandy Falcons to victory in the 18th over. Today, two matches are scheduled, with Galle Marvels taking on Jaffna Kings at 3.00 p.m. and Kandy Falcons facing Colombo Strikers at 7.30 p.m.

Brief Scores:
Dambulla Sixers 179-4 off 20 overs (Mark Chapman 91, Chamindu Wickramsinghe 62, Dasun Shanaka 3-20)
Kandy Falcons 183-4 off 17.2 overs (Dinesh Chandimal 65, Dasun Shanaka 46, Angelo Matthews 37)

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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Football

FFSL’s Suspension of Six Leagues Sparks Outrage Amid Governance Failures

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Colombo – The Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) has suspended six regional football leagues, citing administrative and financial irregularities. However, this decision has triggered widespread criticism and raised serious questions about the federation’s own accountability and governance standards.

The suspended leagues are Embilipitiya, Hambantota, Jaffna, Kalkuda, Madhu Manthai West, and Point Pedro, with the FFSL alleging that they failed to submit annual reports, maintain financial accounts, or conduct football activities for over three years.

While FFSL claims these actions were taken to uphold its constitution, critics argue that FFSL itself has consistently failed to meet national governance standards, particularly those outlined in Sri Lanka’s Sports Act.

FFSL’s Own Compliance Under Fire

According to Section 32 of the Sports Act, national sports bodies like FFSL are legally required to submit their audited financial reports for the previous year on or before May 31st each year. However, the FFSL has reportedly failed to comply with this for multiple consecutive years — from 2022 to 2024 — placing it in clear violation of national law.

This failure gives the Ministry of Sports the legal authority to suspend FFSL’s registration, raising the possibility of a broader administrative intervention if reforms are not undertaken.

Lack of Support for Grassroots Development

Furthermore, FFSL’s lack of consistent funding and tournament organization for regional leagues has hampered football development:

  • 2021: LKR 250,000 per league
  • 2022: LKR 100,000
  • 2023 & 2024: No funding
  • 2025: Limited support to select leagues for a yet-to-be-played Y19 Youth League

Despite this, FFSL is now penalizing regional leagues for being inactive — an inactivity that many argue is the direct result of the federation’s own inaction and neglect.

Legal and Ethical Concerns

The suspension of Jaffna Football League, which is currently under judicial review, has also raised eyebrows. With a court case pending, legal experts question how FFSL can justify suspending a league under such circumstances without violating due process.

Hypocrisy in Action?

Despite citing “no financial reports” as a reason for suspension, FFSL has not published its own audited reports for three straight years. Observers call this an act of institutional hypocrisy, and many stakeholders are calling for the federation to hold itself to the same standards it demands of others.

If Sri Lanka is to progress in regional and international football, governance reform must begin at the top — starting with FFSL’s transparency, accountability, and genuine grassroots development efforts.

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