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Sri Lanka edge Bangladesh in thriller

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Sri Lanka tour of Bangladesh (First T20I)

Sri Lanka clinched a thrilling victory over Bangladesh in the opening match of the Twenty20 series on Monday, triumphing by a margin of three runs. The credit goes to Dasun Shanaka’s remarkable display in the final over, complemented by the impressive fifties from Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama earlier in the innings.

Sri Lanka set a commendable total of 206-3, with Sadeera Samarawickrama’s unbeaten 61 off 48 balls and Kusal Mendis’ 36-ball 59 leading the charge. Stand-in captain Charith Asalanka also played a crucial role, smashing a 21-ball 44 not out with six sixes to propel the team past the 200-run mark. Despite debutant Jaker Ali’s valiant effort for Bangladesh, scoring 68 runs, he fell in the tense last over with 10 runs needed and three balls remaining. Ultimately, Bangladesh fell short at 203-8, leaving Sri Lanka victorious.

During the chase Angelo Mathews gabe the perfect start when he took two wickets to put Bangladesh in a precarious position at 30-3 in the fifth over.

Their situation worsened when captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who had scored 20 off 22, was dismissed by fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, leaving them at 68-4.

However when the chips were down, veteran Mahmudullah, who was playing his first T20 in two years, launched a counterattack to revive Bangladesh’s chances. He partnered with Jaker to add 47 runs for the fifth wicket. With things looking good for Bangladesh, Maheesh Theekshana delivered with a breakthrough to dismiss Mahmudullah after he had scored 54 off 31, including two fours and four sixes.

With Bangladesh hopes almost done and dusted thier debutant Jaker step up to occasion who initially struggled, then took charge and played a crucial role in leading the team towards victory.

With four fours and six sixes, he brought Bangladesh to the brink of success, but ultimately, Shanaka’s brilliance denied them the win.

The second match of the three-match series is scheduled for Wednesday.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 206/3 (Sadeera Samarawickrama 61, Kusal Mendis 59, Charith Asalanka 44; Rishad 1-32) beat Bangladesh 203/8 (Jaker Ali 68, Mahmudullah 54; Angelo Mathews 2-17) by 3 runs.

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New Sri Lanka Cricket Chiefs Promise Sweeping Reforms

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Sri Lanka Cricket’s interim administration has launched a major clean-up operation after uncovering what officials describe as extensive financial mismanagement within the governing body.

Speaking at his first press conference since taking charge last month, interim president Eran Wickramaratne announced that a forensic audit had been ordered to examine the organisation’s accounts in detail.

According to Wickramaratne, the scale of the suspected irregularities exceeded initial expectations, prompting urgent calls for structural reforms and tighter oversight within Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

The current administration was appointed by the government of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake following the resignation of the previous elected committee in April. The move sparked concerns over possible disciplinary action from the International Cricket Council (ICC), which prohibits political interference in cricket boards.

Sri Lanka Cricket had previously faced a two-month suspension from the ICC in 2023 under similar circumstances.

However, Wickramaratne said discussions with the global governing body had been positive and cooperative.

“Our engagement with the ICC has been constructive from the beginning,” he said. “We have kept the process transparent, and they have encouraged reforms carried out through proper and open procedures.”

The interim administration is now working on introducing a new constitution designed to strengthen governance and prevent individuals or groups from holding influence over the board for extended periods.

The resignation of former SLC president Shammi Silva and his committee cleared the way for the latest restructuring effort, which comes amid wider criticism over the board’s management and the national team’s recent performances.

Sri Lanka’s early exit from this year’s T20 World Cup jointly hosted with India intensified public frustration and added pressure for change within the country’s cricket establishment.

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Kapila Wijegunawardene Replaces Pramodya as Sri Lanka Cricket Chief Selector

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Former Sri Lanka cricketer Kapila Wijegunawardene has been appointed as the new Chief Selector of Sri Lanka Cricket, replacing Pramodya Wickramasinghe at the head of the national selection panel.

The appointment was approved by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports following a request made by Sri Lanka Cricket on May 20, 2026.

Alongside Wijegunawardene, the newly named selection committee includes Amal Silva, Brendon Kuruppu, Varuna Waragoda, and Vanessa de Silva.

The new panel is expected to oversee national team selections and player evaluations across all formats as Sri Lanka prepares for a demanding international schedule in the coming months.

Cricket observers believe the inclusion of several experienced former players could bring renewed direction to the country’s selection process.

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Sanath Jayasuriya Steps Down from Sri Lanka Cricket High Performance Role

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Former Sri Lankan cricket legend and former head coach Sanath Jayasuriya has officially resigned from his position as Consultant to Sri Lanka Cricket’s High Performance Centre, with his resignation set to take effect at the end of this month.

In a letter addressed to the recently appointed Cricket Transformation Committee, Jayasuriya stated that he had become aware of concerns raised by several committee members regarding his dual roles within Sri Lankan cricket administration.

The concerns reportedly centered on his appointment to the High Performance Centre while simultaneously serving as President of the Matara District Cricket Association, which some believed could create a potential conflict of interest.

Jayasuriya noted that his decision to step down was made in the best interests of transparency and the future development of Sri Lankan cricket. He emphasized his continued commitment to supporting the sport and nurturing young talent despite leaving the consultancy role.

Widely regarded as one of Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketers, Jayasuriya has remained actively involved in cricket administration and player development since retiring from international cricket. His resignation comes at a time when Sri Lanka Cricket is undergoing significant structural reforms aimed at improving governance and performance standards.

Officials from Sri Lanka Cricket have yet to issue a formal statement regarding the resignation.

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