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Sri Lanka bag series with a game to spare.

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West Indies Women’s tour of Sri Lanka 2024

Sri Lanka secures ODI series victory against the West Indies after 16 years thanks to Vishmi Gunaratne’s half-century and Kavisha Dilhari’s impressive performance with both bat and ball. The five-wicket win in the second ODI in Hambantota puts Sri Lanka 2-0 up in the series with one game remaining, marking their first series win against the West Indies since 2008.

Shemaine Campbelle, the stand-in captain for the West Indies, won the toss and chose to bat first. Unfortunately, the team had a rough start as they lost key players like Stafanie Taylor and Campbelle herself within the first 15 overs. The West Indies were in deep trouble at 22/3 in the 13th over when Chedean Nation and Rashada Williams came together and formed a crucial 24-run partnership for the 4th wicket.

Sri Lanka’s Sugandika Kumari dismissed Rashada Williams, providing the 4th breakthrough for her team. The West Indies then lost a couple more wickets quickly and found themselves in a difficult situation at 54/6 in 23 overs. Aaliyah Alleyne and Afy Fletcher joined forces and managed to build another important partnership of 28 runs for the 7th wicket. However, Sri Lanka’s skipper Chamari Athapaththu dismissed Aaliyah Alleyne, securing the 7th breakthrough for her side.

In the end, the West Indies were bowled out for a mere 92 runs with 19 overs still remaining. This is their third-lowest total against Sri Lanka in the ODI format. Rashada Williams (24 off 62 balls), Aaliyah Alleyne (16 off 18 balls), and Afy Fletcher (16 off 20 balls) were the top performers with the bat for the West Indies. On the other hand, Kavisha Dilhari (6-0-20-4), Achini Kulasuriya (7-1-16-2), Sugandika Kumari (6-0-16-1), and skipper Chamari Athapaththu (2-0-8-2) were the standout performers with the ball for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka, chasing a target of 93, faced early setbacks as they lost a couple of wickets, including their skipper Chamari Athapaththu, within the first six overs of the run chase. The partnership between Kavisha Dilhari and Vishmi Gunaratne then helped them edge closer to the target with a crucial 58-run stand for the 3rd wicket. Zaida James later claimed the wicket of Gunaratne in the 17th over, marking the 3rd breakthrough for the West Indies.
Gunaratne reached her well-deserved half-century before departing. Sri Lanka successfully achieved the target with five wickets in hand and 172 balls to spare. Gunaratne (50 off 50 balls) and Dilhari (28 off 38 balls) stood out with the bat for Sri Lanka. On the other hand, Ramharack, Connell, James, and Alleyne were the standout performers with the ball for the West Indies.
Dilhari’s all-round performance, taking 4 wickets for 20 runs and contributing 28 runs with the bat, was instrumental in guiding Sri Lanka to victory in the three-match ODI series against the West Indies after 16 years.

The two sides will next meet in the third and final ODI on Friday (21) at the Hambantota Stadium.

Football

AIFF Faces FIFA, AFC Ban Threat as October 30 Deadline Looms

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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

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Football

Heritage Derby Trophy Goes to Hameed Al Husseinie College

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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.

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Football

Exclusive: AFC Fines Sri Lankan Footballer Over “Free Palestine” Message

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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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