News
The winners of the prestigious ICC Awards of the Decade
The winners of the prestigious ICC Awards of the Decade including the Rachel Heyhoe-Flint for Best Female Player and Sir Garfield Sobers for Best Male Player, were announced simultaneously across all ICC Digital channels, as well as the Star Sports Network, on Monday, December 28.
හොඳම කාන්තා ක්රීඩිකාව සඳහා රේචල් හෙයිහෝ-ෆ්ලින්ට් සහ හොඳම පිරිමි ක්රීඩිකාව සඳහා ශ්රීමත් ගාෆීල්ඩ් සොබර්ස් ඇතුළු දශකයේ කීර්තිමත් අයිසීසී සම්මාන උළෙලේ ජයග්රාහකයින් සියලු අයිසීසී ඩිජිටල් නාලිකා මෙන්ම ස්ටාර් ස්පෝර්ට්ස් ජාලය හරහා එකවර ප්රකාශයට පත් කරන ලදී.
சிறந்த பெண் வீரருக்கான ரேச்சல் ஹேஹோ-பிளின்ட் மற்றும் சிறந்த ஆண் வீரருக்கான சர் கார்பீல்ட் சோபர்ஸ் உள்ளிட்ட தசாப்தத்தின் மதிப்புமிக்க ஐ.சி.சி விருதுகளின் வெற்றியாளர்கள் அனைத்து ஐ.சி.சி டிஜிட்டல் சேனல்களிலும், ஸ்டார் ஸ்போர்ட்ஸ் நெட்வொர்க்கிலும் ஒரே நேரத்தில் டிசம்பர் 28 அன்று அறிவிக்கப்பட்டனர்.
Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC Male Cricketer of the Decade – Virat Kholi

Virat Kohli, who had scored 20,396 runs in all international cricket during the time period, which is more than anyone else, was also part of team India that won the ICC CWC 2011 and ICC Champions Trophy 2013. He was also named ICC Cricketer of the Year in both 2017 and 2018, so it was no surprise that he emerged as the clear jury favorite with winning the Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC Male Cricketer of the Decade.
Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award for ICC Female Cricketer of the Decade – Ellyse Perry

Australia cricketer Ellyse Perry on Monday swept the ICC awards to be crowned the best women’s player of the past decade. Perry was unveiled as the winner of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Award for ICC Female Cricketer of the Decade, while also claiming both the ODI and T20I Cricketer of the Decade awards.
ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Decade – Steve Smith

Australia’s Steve Smith has been named the ICC Men’s Test Player of the Decade, having established himself as one of the best Test batsmen since Don Bradman. Australia’s Steve Smith has been named the ICC Men’s Test Player of the Decade, having established himself as one of the best Test batsmen since Don Bradman.
ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade – Virat Kholi

Kohli took home both the Sir Garfield Sobers Award for ICC Male Cricketer of the Decade and the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade. Kohli’s potential was evident as far back as in 2008, when he led India to a win in the ICC under-19 World Cup in 2008. He is nominated for the ICC Men’s ODI Player of the Decade award
ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Decade – Ellyse Perry

Australia’s Ellyse Perry has been named the ICC’s women’s cricketer of the decade, with Steve Smith winning the men’s Test player of the decade award. Perry took the overall honour and was also acclaimed as the ICC’s ODI and Twenty20 female player of the decade
ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Decade – Rashid Khan

Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has been named as the ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Decade. Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan has been named as the ICC Men’s T20I Player of the Decade. He has an incredible record to date in the format, having amassed 89 wickets in 48 games, at an average of just 12.62.
ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Decade – Ellyse Perry

ICC Men’s Associate Cricketer of the Decade – Kyle Coetzer

Scotland’s Kyle Coetzer and Kathryn Bryce honoured with the ICC Associate Player of the Decade awards. Scotland internationals Kyle Coetzer and Kathryn Bryce have been announced as the ICC’s Associate Player of the Decade.
ICC Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Decade – Kathryn Bryce

Kathryn Bryce (born 17 November 1997) is a Scottish cricketer who plays for the Scotland women’s cricket team. In December 2020, Bryce was named the ICC Associate Cricketer of the Decade
ICC Spirit of Cricket Award of the Decade – MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni has won the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award of the Decade following a fan vote, for his decision to recall Ian Bell after a controversial run out in the 2011 Nottingham Test between England and India. The incident won the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award in 2011
Football
CBL Samaposha Continues to Empower Sri Lanka’s Young Footballers for the 14th Consecutive Year
In a remarkable display of commitment to grassroots sports development, CBL Samaposha continues its proud legacy of empowering the U14 Inter-School National Football Championship for the 14th consecutive year, reaffirming its role as one of Sri Lanka’s most consistent supporters of school-level football.
Organized by the Schools Football Association of Sri Lanka (SSFA), this year’s championship will take place across 32 regional grounds islandwide, drawing participation from over 12,000 young players representing 510 boys’ teams and 110 girls’ teams.

Provincial champions will advance to the final rounds in Galle, with matches scheduled at the Dadella Football Complex, B.T.S. School Grounds, and Galle Municipal Grounds. The grand final will be played at the Colombo Racecourse Grounds on December 13, where the nation’s most talented young players will compete for top honors.
CBL Foods’ Chief Executive Officer Mr. Manjula Dahanayake emphasized the company’s deep-rooted commitment to nurturing youth potential, saying:
“Our vision is to inspire young Sri Lankans to pursue their dreams through sport, discipline, and teamwork. Supporting this tournament helps build the next generation of leaders both on and off the field.”
SSFA CEO Mr. Iraj Wimalasuriya expressed appreciation for Samaposha’s continued partnership, stating:
“CBL Samaposha has been a true ally in our mission to strengthen school football. Their long-term commitment ensures that children from all parts of the island get an equal opportunity to play, compete, and grow.”
Adding further, Lt. Col. G.G. Anura Apevikrama, Director of Physical Education and Sports at the Ministry of Education, noted that this championship is often the first competitive experience for many budding footballers — a crucial step in building Sri Lanka’s sporting future.
As a proudly homegrown brand under CBL Plenty Foods (Pvt) Ltd, Samaposha continues to fuel the nation’s youth — both nutritionally and inspirationally — reinforcing the value of sportsmanship and unity through football.
🏆 About the Championship
- Organizer: Schools Football Association of Sri Lanka (SSFA)
- Sponsor: CBL Samaposha
- Players: Over 12,000 (Boys & Girls)
- Venues: 32 regional grounds, finals in Galle & Colombo
- Finals Date: December 13, 2025
News
Lifebouy Ball Blaster 2025 – Group B Wide Open as Royal, Aligar & Kalutara Battle for Top Spot
The race for qualification in Group B of the Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 2025 Schools Football Tournament is heating up, with three top schools still in contention for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Royal College Leads the Pack
Royal College, Colombo currently sits on top of Group B after an impressive 5-0 victory, showcasing both dominance and attacking flair. With two crucial matches left, Royal remains the favorite to finish as group leaders — but the battle is far from over.
Aligar Central’s Mixed Fortunes
Aligar Central College, last year’s runners-up and inaugural Ball Blaster champions, have had a mixed campaign so far. After one win and one narrow loss — the latter coming from an unfortunate own goal — the team still remains firmly in the race for qualification.
Kalutara Muslim Still in the Hunt
Kalutara Muslim Central College, one of the most competitive sides in this year’s tournament, has only played one game so far — securing a 1-0 win. With two matches still to play, they remain a real threat to the current table leaders.
Maris Stella Struggling for Form
Maris Stella College, on the other hand, has had a tough run, losing both their opening fixtures and conceding nine goals in the process. They will now look to finish strong and disrupt the group standings in the remaining matches.
With the Group B stage still wide open, the coming matchdays promise thrilling encounters as Royal, Aligar, and Kalutara fight for the top two quarterfinal spots in the Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 2025.
Football
Zahira College Colombo Dominate Group A — Gampola Zahira and Darussalam Battle for Second Spot
The Group A stage of the Lifebuoy Ball Blaster 2025 Schools Football Championship is heating up, with Zahira College Colombo emerging as the clear frontrunner after an unbeaten run in their first two matches. With six points and an impressive 8–2 goal difference, Zahira are well on course to top the group and secure a direct berth to the quarterfinals.
Zahira’s attacking flair and tactical balance have made them one of the most complete teams in this year’s tournament. Their consistent performances have set the tone in Group A, making them strong contenders for the overall title.
Behind them, the battle for the second qualifying spot is intensifying between Darussalam College and Gampola Zahira College. Both teams currently sit on three points each, but Darussalam have played one match more, leaving Gampola Zahira with a crucial game in hand.
Kingswood College, despite showing moments of promise, have struggled to convert opportunities into results and remain winless after three outings.
With two group matches remaining, the race for quarterfinal qualification is expected to go down to the wire. Zahira Colombo, the current Group A leader, will likely face Vaddakkachchi Central College (D2) from Group D in the knockout stage, while the second-placed team will meet Hameed Al Husseinie College (D1) — setting up thrilling contests ahead.
| School | M | W | L | D | GS | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zahira College, Colombo | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 6 |
| Gampola Zahira College | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 3 |
| Darussalam College | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Kingswood College | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 0 |



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