News
Top Cricketers Set Sights on LPL 2023
The Lanka Premier League (LPL) is back and better than ever with its upcoming 4th edition set to take place from 30 July to 20 August. This year, the matches will be played both in Colombo and Kandy and will feature five teams: Galle Gladiators, Dambulla Aura, Lyca Jaffna Kings, Colombo Strikers and Kandy Falcons – with each team including 6 international players. Player Registrations will open on 15 May, for both local and international players, with the Live Player Draft scheduled for 4 June.
One of the most exciting aspects of the LPL is the calibre of players it attracts from all around the world. This year, some of the biggest names in cricket will be participating, including West Indies stars Dwayne Bravo and Keiron Pollard, as well as Shakib Al Hassan, one of Bangladesh’s greatest all-rounders.
But that is not all! The LPL has also announced a number of foreign players who have been registered for the upcoming players’ draft. Players from Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ireland, New Zealand, and Namibia will all vie for a chance to participate in the tournament. Some of the star players include Matthew Wade, Shaun Marsh, D’Arcy Short, Usman Khawaja, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi, Muhammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Wahab Riaz, Litton Das, Afif Hossain, Paul Stirling, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell, Doug Bracewell, and Gerhard Erasmus.
The teams will play each other twice in the round-robin stage, with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs. The tournament promises to be an action-packed, super-thrilling series with top-quality cricket on display throughout.
Anil Mohan, Founder and CEO of Dubai-based production giant IPG, the official promoter of LPL, expressed his excitement about the games and the quality of players the LPL attracts. “This year’s tournament includes an exciting list of players. I am sure fans can look forward to some scintillating performances from them.”
West Indies stars Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard have agreed to participate only in the first part of the LPL tournament due to their commitments to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Players of their fine calibre, and global recognition, willing to make accommodations to participate in the LPL, is a testament to the quality of the tournament and the level of international talent it is capable of attracting.
“The tournament has been scheduled for July and August this year, as it sits well with Sri Lanka’s international calendar. It also gives us the best opportunity to attract top international talent,” said Samantha Dodanwela, Tournament Director of the Lanka Premier League.
The LPL has been a great success since its inception and is enjoyed by fans all over the world. It is an exceptional platform for young Sri Lankan talent to showcase their skills and compete against some of the best players in the world. With the match dates set to be announced during the first week of May, fans all around the world can now plan their schedules and witness the excitement of the Lanka Premier League.
“We are excited to be hosting the tournament once again and can’t wait to see what this year’s edition has in store. With the talent level on display, we are confident that the tournament will be a huge success,” added Dodanwela.
So, cricket fans, mark your calendars and get ready for the LPL, a tournament that promises to be full of excitement and action. The fourth edition of the LPL is set to take Sri Lankan cricket to new heights, with anticipation growing amongst fans in Sri Lanka and across the world.
ඉහළම ක්රිකට් ක්රීඩකයින් LPL 2023 මත ස්ථාන සකසයි
Lanka Premier League (LPL) එහි ඉදිරි 4 වන සංස්කරණය ජුලි 30 සිට අගෝස්තු 20 දක්වා පැවැත්වීමට නියමිතව ඇති අතර වෙන කවරදාටත් වඩා හොඳ තත්වයකට පැමිණ ඇත. මෙම වසරේ කොළඹ සහ මහනුවර යන නගර දෙකේදීම තරග පැවැත්වෙන අතර Galle Gladiators, Dambulla Aura, Lyca Jaffna Kings, Colombo Strikers සහ Kandy Falcons යන කණ්ඩායම් පහ බැගින් තරග වදින අතර එක් කණ්ඩායමකට ජාත්යන්තර ක්රීඩකයින් 6 දෙනෙකු ඇතුළත් වේ. සජීවී ක්රීඩක කෙටුම්පත ජුනි 4 ට සැලසුම් කර ඇති අතර දේශීය සහ ජාත්යන්තර ක්රීඩකයින් සඳහා ක්රීඩකයින් ලියාපදිංචි කිරීම මැයි 15 දින විවෘත වේ.
LPL හි වඩාත් ආකර්ෂණීය අංගයක් වන්නේ එය ලොව පුරා සිටින ක්රීඩකයින් ආකර්ෂණය කර ගැනීමයි. බටහිර ඉන්දීය කොදෙව් තරු වන ඩ්වේන් බ්රාවෝ සහ කීරන් පොලාඩ් මෙන්ම බංග්ලාදේශයේ විශිෂ්ඨතම තුන් ඉරියව් ක්රීඩකයෙකු වන ෂකීබ් අල් හසන් ද ඇතුළුව ක්රිකට් ක්රීඩාවේ දැවැන්තයින් කිහිප දෙනෙකු මෙම වසරේ සහභාගී වනු ඇත.
නමුත් එය සියල්ලම නොවේ! ඉදිරි ක්රීඩකයින්ගේ කෙටුම්පත සඳහා ලියාපදිංචි වී ඇති විදේශීය ක්රීඩකයින් ගණනාවක් ද LPL විසින් ප්රකාශයට පත් කර ඇත. ඕස්ට්රේලියාව, දකුණු අප්රිකාව, පකිස්ථානය, බංග්ලාදේශය, අයර්ලන්තය, නවසීලන්තය සහ නැමීබියාව යන රටවල ක්රීඩකයින් තරඟාවලියට සහභාගී වීමේ අවස්ථාව සඳහා තරඟ වදිනු ඇත. සමහර තරු ක්රීඩකයින් අතර මැතිව් වේඩ්, ෂෝන් මාෂ්, ඩී ආර්සි ෂෝට්, උස්මාන් ඛවාජා, ලුංගි න්ගිඩි, ඉම්රාන් තහීර්, තබ්රයිස් ෂම්සි, මුහම්මද් නවාස්, නසීම් ෂා, වහබ් රියාස්, ලිටන් දාස්, අෆිෆ් හොසේන්, පෝල් ස්ටර්ලින්, මිචෙල් සැන්ට්නර් ඇතුළත් වේ. Ish Sodhi, Tim Seifert, Daryl Mitchell, Doug Bracewell සහ Gerhard Erasmus.
කණ්ඩායම් රවුන්ඩ් රොබින් අදියරේදී එකිනෙකා සමඟ දෙවරක් ක්රීඩා කරනු ඇති අතර හොඳම කණ්ඩායම් හතර ප්ලේ-ඕෆ් වටයට පිවිසේ. මෙම තරඟාවලිය ක්රියාදාමයෙන් පිරුණු, සුපිරි-ත්රාසජනක තරඟාවලියක් බවට පොරොන්දු වන අතර, එය පුරාවටම ප්රදර්ශනය කෙරෙන ඉහලම ගුණාත්මක ක්රිකට් සමඟිනි.
LPL හි නිල ප්රවර්ධකයා වන ඩුබායි හි නිෂ්පාදන දැවැන්තයා වන IPG හි නිර්මාතෘ සහ ප්රධාන විධායක නිලධාරී අනිල් මොහාන්, LPL ආකර්ෂණය කරන ක්රීඩකයින්ගේ ක්රීඩා සහ ගුණාත්මකභාවය පිළිබඳව සිය සතුට පළ කළේය. “මෙවර තරගාවලියට උද්යෝගිමත් ක්රීඩකයන්ගේ ලැයිස්තුවක් ඇතුළත්. රසික රසිකාවියන් ඔවුන්ගේ සිත් ඇදගන්නාසුළු රංගනයන් බලාපොරොත්තු විය හැකි බව මට විශ්වාසයි.
බටහිර ඉන්දීය කොදෙව් ක්රීඩකයින් වන ඩ්වේන් බ්රාවෝ සහ කීරන් පොලාඩ් කැරිබියන් ප්රිමියර් ලීග් (සීපීඑල්) සඳහා ඔවුන්ගේ කැපවීම හේතුවෙන් LPL තරඟාවලියේ පළමු කොටස සඳහා පමණක් සහභාගී වීමට එකඟ වී ඇත. LPL තරඟාවලියට සහභාගී වීමට අවශ්ය පහසුකම් සපයා ගැනීමට කැමැත්තෙන් සිටින ක්රීඩකයින් ඔවුන්ගේ දක්ෂතා සහ ගෝලීය පිළිගැනීම, තරඟාවලියේ ගුණාත්මක භාවය සහ එය ආකර්ෂණය කර ගත හැකි ජාත්යන්තර දක්ෂතා මට්ටම පිලිබඳ සාක්ෂියකි.
“මෙම තරඟාවලිය මෙම වසරේ ජූලි සහ අගෝස්තු මාසවලදී පැවැත්වීමට නියමිතව ඇත්තේ එය ශ්රී ලංකාවේ ජාත්යන්තර දින දර්ශනයට හොඳින් ගැලපෙන බැවිනි. ඒ වගේම ජාත්යන්තරයේ ඉහළම දක්ෂතා ආකර්ශනය කර ගැනීමට අපට හොඳම අවස්ථාව ලැබෙනවා” යැයි ලංකා ප්රිමියර් ලීග් තරඟාවලියේ අධ්යක්ෂ සමන්ත දොඩන්වෙල මහතා පැවසීය.
LPL ආරම්භයේ සිටම විශාල සාර්ථකත්වයක් ලබා ඇති අතර ලොව පුරා රසිකයින් විසින් එය භුක්ති විඳිති. එය ශ්රී ලාංකීය තරුණ දක්ෂයින්ට ඔවුන්ගේ දස්කම් පෙන්වීමට සහ ලොව හොඳම ක්රීඩකයින් කිහිප දෙනෙකුට එරෙහිව තරඟ කිරීමට සුවිශේෂී වේදිකාවකි. මැයි මුල් සතියේ තරග දිනයන් ප්රකාශයට පත් කිරීමට නියමිතව ඇති හෙයින්, ලොව පුරා සිටින ක්රීඩා ලෝලීන්ට දැන් ඔවුන්ගේ කාලසටහන් සැලසුම් කර ලංකා ප්රිමියර් ලීගයේ උද්යෝගය දැක බලා ගත හැකිය.
“අපි නැවත වරක් තරඟාවලියට සත්කාරකත්වය දැක්වීමට සතුටු වන අතර මෙවර සංස්කරණයේ ගබඩා කර ඇති දේ බැලීමට බලා සිටිය නොහැක. දක්ෂතා මට්ටම ප්රදර්ශනය වීමත් සමඟ තරගාවලිය අති සාර්ථක වනු ඇතැයි අපට විශ්වාසයි” දොඩන්වෙල මහතා වැඩිදුරටත් පැවසීය.
ඉතින්, ක්රිකට් ලෝලීන්, ඔබේ දින දර්ශන සලකුණු කර LPL තරඟාවලිය සඳහා සූදානම් වන්න, එය උද්දීපනයෙන් සහ ක්රියාවෙන් පිරී පවතින බවට පොරොන්දු වේ. එල්.පී.එල්. හි සිව්වන සංස්කරණය ශ්රී ලංකාවේ සහ ලොව පුරා රසිකයන් අතර අපේක්ෂාවක් වර්ධනය වීමත් සමඟ ශ්රී ලංකා ක්රිකට් නව උසකට ගෙන යාමට සූදානම් වේ.
LPL 2023 இல் விளையாடும் சிறந்த கிரிக்கெட் வீரர்கள்
லங்கா பிரீமியர் லீக் (LPL) அதன் வரவிருக்கும் 4 வது பதிப்பு ஜூலை 30 முதல் ஆகஸ்ட் 20 வரை நடைபெறவுள்ள நிலையில் முன்னெப்போதையும் விட சிறப்பாக உள்ளது. இந்த ஆண்டு, போட்டிகள் கொழும்பு மற்றும் கண்டி ஆகிய இரண்டு இடங்களிலும் விளையாடப்படும், மேலும் ஐந்து அணிகள் பங்கேற்கின்றன: காலி கிளாடியேட்டர்ஸ், தம்புள்ளை ஆரா, லைக்கா யாழ் கிங்ஸ், கொழும்பு ஸ்ட்ரைக்கர்ஸ் மற்றும் கண்டி ஃபால்கன்ஸ் – ஒவ்வொரு அணியும் 6 சர்வதேச வீரர்கள் உட்பட. லைவ் பிளேயர் டிராஃப்ட் ஜூன் 4 ஆம் தேதி திட்டமிடப்பட்டு உள்ளூர் மற்றும் சர்வதேச வீரர்களுக்கு மே 15 அன்று பிளேயர் பதிவுகள் திறக்கப்படும்.
எல்பிஎல்லின் மிகவும் உற்சாகமான அம்சங்களில் ஒன்று, அது உலகம் முழுவதிலுமிருந்து ஈர்க்கும் வீரர்களின் திறன் ஆகும். இந்த ஆண்டு, வெஸ்ட் இண்டீஸ் நட்சத்திரங்களான டுவைன் பிராவோ மற்றும் கெய்ரோன் பொல்லார்ட் மற்றும் பங்களாதேஷின் சிறந்த ஆல்ரவுண்டர்களில் ஒருவரான ஷாகிப் அல் ஹாசன் உட்பட கிரிக்கெட்டில் மிகப் பெரிய பெயர்கள் சிலர் பங்கேற்க உள்ளனர்.
ஆனால் அது எல்லாம் இல்லை! வரவிருக்கும் வீரர்களின் வரைவுக்கு பதிவுசெய்யப்பட்ட பல வெளிநாட்டு வீரர்களையும் LPL அறிவித்துள்ளது. ஆஸ்திரேலியா, தென்னாப்பிரிக்கா, பாகிஸ்தான், பங்களாதேஷ், அயர்லாந்து, நியூசிலாந்து மற்றும் நமீபியா ஆகிய நாடுகளைச் சேர்ந்த வீரர்கள் அனைவரும் போட்டியில் பங்கேற்கும் வாய்ப்பைப் பெறுவார்கள். நட்சத்திர வீரர்களில் மேத்யூ வேட், ஷான் மார்ஷ், டி’ஆர்சி ஷார்ட், உஸ்மான் கவாஜா, லுங்கி என்கிடி, இம்ரான் தாஹிர், தப்ரைஸ் ஷம்சி, முஹம்மது நவாஸ், நசீம் ஷா, வஹாப் ரியாஸ், லிட்டன் தாஸ், அஃபிஃப் ஹொசைன், பால் ஸ்டிர்லிங், மிட்செல் சான்ட்னர் ஆகியோர் அடங்குவர். இஷ் சோதி, டிம் சீஃபர்ட், டேரில் மிட்செல், டக் பிரேஸ்வெல் மற்றும் கெர்ஹார்ட் எராஸ்மஸ்.
ரவுண்ட்-ராபின் கட்டத்தில் அணிகள் ஒருவருக்கொருவர் இரண்டு முறை விளையாடும், முதல் நான்கு அணிகள் பிளேஆஃப்களுக்கு முன்னேறும். இந்த போட்டியானது ஒரு அதிரடி நிரம்பிய, சூப்பர் த்ரில்லான தொடராக இருக்கும் என்று உறுதியளிக்கிறது, மேலும் சிறந்த தரமான கிரிக்கெட் முழுவதும் காட்சிப்படுத்தப்படும்.
துபாயை தளமாகக் கொண்ட தயாரிப்பு நிறுவனமான IPG இன் நிறுவனர் மற்றும் CEO, LPL இன் அதிகாரப்பூர்வ விளம்பரதாரர், விளையாட்டுகள் மற்றும் LPL ஈர்க்கும் வீரர்களின் தரம் குறித்து தனது உற்சாகத்தை வெளிப்படுத்தினார். “இந்த ஆண்டுக்கான போட்டியில் உற்சாகமான வீரர்களின் பட்டியல் உள்ளது. அவர்களிடமிருந்து சில அட்டகாசமான நடிப்பை ரசிகர்கள் எதிர்நோக்குவார்கள் என்று நான் நம்புகிறேன்.
வெஸ்ட் இண்டீஸ் நட்சத்திரங்களான டுவைன் பிராவோ மற்றும் கெய்ரோன் பொல்லார்ட் ஆகியோர் கரீபியன் பிரீமியர் லீக் (சிபிஎல்)க்கான தங்கள் கடமைகளின் காரணமாக எல்பிஎல் போட்டியின் முதல் பகுதியில் மட்டுமே பங்கேற்க ஒப்புக்கொண்டனர். எல்பிஎல்லில் பங்கேற்பதற்கான தங்குமிடங்களைச் செய்யத் தயாராக இருக்கும் அவர்களின் சிறந்த திறமை மற்றும் உலகளாவிய அங்கீகாரம் கொண்ட வீரர்கள், போட்டியின் தரம் மற்றும் அது ஈர்க்கும் திறன் கொண்ட சர்வதேச திறமைகளின் நிலைக்கு ஒரு சான்றாகும்.
“இலங்கையின் சர்வதேச நாட்காட்டியுடன் நன்றாக அமர்ந்திருப்பதால், இந்த ஆண்டு ஜூலை மற்றும் ஆகஸ்ட் மாதங்களில் போட்டிகள் திட்டமிடப்பட்டுள்ளன. சிறந்த சர்வதேச திறமைகளை ஈர்ப்பதற்கான சிறந்த வாய்ப்பையும் இது வழங்குகிறது” என லங்கா பிரீமியர் லீக்கின் போட்டிப் பணிப்பாளர் சமந்த தொடன்வெல தெரிவித்தார்.
எல்பிஎல் அதன் தொடக்கத்தில் இருந்து ஒரு பெரிய வெற்றியை பெற்றுள்ளது மற்றும் உலகம் முழுவதும் உள்ள ரசிகர்களால் ரசிக்கப்படுகிறது. இலங்கையின் இளம் திறமையாளர்கள் தங்கள் திறமைகளை வெளிப்படுத்தவும், உலகின் சிறந்த வீரர்களுக்கு எதிராக போட்டியிடவும் இது ஒரு விதிவிலக்கான தளமாகும். மே முதல் வாரத்தில் போட்டித் தேதிகள் அறிவிக்கப்படவுள்ள நிலையில், உலகெங்கிலும் உள்ள ரசிகர்கள் இப்போது தங்கள் அட்டவணைகளைத் திட்டமிடலாம் மற்றும் லங்கா பிரீமியர் லீக்கின் உற்சாகத்தைக் காணலாம்.
“மீண்டும் போட்டியை நடத்துவதில் நாங்கள் மகிழ்ச்சியடைகிறோம், மேலும் இந்த ஆண்டு பதிப்பில் என்ன இருக்கிறது என்பதைப் பார்க்க காத்திருக்க முடியாது. திறமை நிலை வெளிப்படும் நிலையில், போட்டிகள் மிகப் பெரிய வெற்றியடையும் என்று நாங்கள் நம்புகிறோம்,” என்று தொடன்வெல மேலும் கூறினார்.
எனவே, கிரிக்கெட் ரசிகர்களே, உங்கள் காலெண்டரைக் குறித்து வைத்து, உற்சாகமும், அதிரடியும் நிறைந்த எல்பிஎல் போட்டிக்கு தயாராகுங்கள். எல்பிஎல்லின் நான்காவது பதிப்பு இலங்கை கிரிக்கெட்டை புதிய உயரத்திற்கு கொண்டு செல்ல உள்ளது, இலங்கை மற்றும் உலகம் முழுவதும் உள்ள ரசிகர்கள் மத்தியில் எதிர்பார்ப்பு அதிகரித்து வருகிறது.
Cricket
England Begin Super Eights with Statement Win as Sri Lanka Falter in Chase
Sri Lanka’s Super Eight campaign at the T20 World Cup 2026 suffered a major blow in Kandy on Sunday, as co-hosts fell to a comprehensive 51-run defeat against England cricket team, leaving their semi-final prospects under pressure.
Electing to field first on a slow pitch at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka’s bowlers made early inroads and restricted England to 146/9, defending a modest total with a disciplined effort that saw several tight overs in the middle phase.
Phil Salt was the standout performer with the bat for England, anchoring their innings with a crucial 62 off 36 balls, while other batters struggled to accelerate.
However, it was England’s bowling and fielding — led by an impressive all-round showing from Will Jacks — that ultimately decided the contest. Jacks’ left-arm spin delivered a match-turning spell of 3/22 in four overs, and he also chipped in with vital lower-order runs that helped tilt the momentum fully in England’s favour.
“I thought we executed our plans really well with the ball,” Jacks said after being named Player of the Match. “We knew the conditions would be tough, and credit to our bowlers for sticking to their lengths and building pressure.”
Sri Lanka’s Chase Falls Apart
Chasing a target of 147, Sri Lanka never recovered from a top-order collapse. After losing early wickets in the Powerplay, the home side slumped to 34/5, leaving the middle and lower order with an uphill task.
Captain Dasun Shanaka was among the few who offered resistance, scoring a gritty 30, but there was little support around him as the innings deteriorated rapidly. Sri Lanka were eventually bundled out for 95 in 16.4 overs, failing to adapt to England’s bowling pressure on a slow surface.
“It’s disappointing,” Shanaka said post-match. “We knew runs wouldn’t come easy, but we didn’t build partnerships. We let ourselves down in crucial moments.”
What It Means for Sri Lanka
England’s victory gives them a valuable boost in Super Eight Group 2, strengthening their bid for a semi-final spot. For Sri Lanka, the loss raises questions about their batting depth and ability to chase under pressure, especially after entering the Super Eights with solid momentum from the group stage.
With their next match looming, Sri Lanka must regroup quickly if they are to keep their World Cup ambitions alive on home soil.
Cricket
Sri Lanka Stunned by Zimbabwe Despite 178 as Bowling Falters in Colombo
Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup campaign suffered a major setback as they went down to Zimbabwe by six wickets at the R. Premadasa Stadium — a result few predicted before the first ball was bowled.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Sri Lanka posted what appeared to be a competitive 178/7. But defensive bowling and a lack of control in key moments allowed Zimbabwe to chase down 179 with three balls to spare, finishing on 182/4 in 19.3 overs.
Where Sri Lanka Lost the Game
Strong Start, Poor Finish with the Bat
Sri Lanka flew out of the blocks, scoring 61 runs in the Powerplay.
- Pathum Nissanka led the charge with a fluent 62 off 41 balls.
- The opening stand raced to 54 inside five overs.
However, momentum dipped sharply in the middle overs:
- Kusal Mendis struggled (14 off 20).
- The run rate slowed between overs 7–14.
- Despite a late push from Pavan Rathnayake (44 off 25), Sri Lanka managed only 28 runs in the final three overs.
From a position of dominance at 108/2, they could not push beyond the 185–190 mark — a total that, in hindsight, proved costly.
Failure to Strike Early with the Ball
Zimbabwe’s chase was built on a solid foundation:
- 55 runs in the Powerplay without losing a wicket.
- 69-run opening stand removed early pressure.
Sri Lanka never truly regained control.
The Raza–Bennett Counterattack
The turning point came when captain Sikandar Raza launched a brutal counterattack:
- 45 off 26 balls
- 4 sixes
- 50-run partnership in just 27 balls
Brian Bennett anchored the chase superbly with an unbeaten 63 off 48.
Raza’s assault in overs 15–18 shifted the momentum completely, taking the game away from Sri Lanka just when it seemed evenly poised.
Bowling Concerns Under Lights
Sri Lanka’s bowling lacked penetration:
- Maheesh Theekshana conceded 47 in 3.3 overs (13.42 economy).
- No early breakthroughs from the seamers.
- Only one Powerplay wicket across both innings combined.
On a Colombo surface that slowed slightly, Zimbabwe adapted better, rotating strike efficiently before accelerating at the death.
Key Numbers That Hurt Sri Lanka
- Zimbabwe Powerplay: 55/0
- Sri Lanka Powerplay wickets: 0
- Zimbabwe scored 150 in just 16.1 overs
- Sri Lanka conceded 9.33 runs per over in the chase
What This Means
Sri Lanka entered as favourites, especially batting first at home. But tactical lapses, middle-over stagnation, and expensive spells under pressure proved decisive.
Zimbabwe, disciplined with the ball and fearless in the chase, fully deserved their two points.
For Sri Lanka, questions now emerge:
- Is the bowling attack lacking bite?
- Are middle overs becoming a recurring concern?
- Was 178 ever going to be enough on this surface?
With tougher fixtures ahead in the T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka must regroup quickly — because performances like this could derail their campaign early.
Cricket
Sri Lanka Sweats on Pathirana Injury; Hasaranga Comeback on the Cards
Sri Lanka’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign has suffered a major setback, with fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana likely to miss the remainder of the tournament due to injury.
The 23-year-old sustained a calf injury during Sri Lanka’s Group B encounter against Australia on Monday at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The incident occurred in his opening over when, after delivering the fourth ball, Pathirana suddenly pulled up clutching his left calf before collapsing to the ground in visible discomfort.
Team physiotherapists rushed onto the field as concerned teammates gathered around. The pacer was unable to leave the field without assistance, immediately raising concerns about the severity of the injury. Captain Dasun Shanaka completed the over in his absence.
Shortly after, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed that Pathirana would take no further part in the match. In a brief statement, SLC said the bowler had experienced discomfort in his left calf and would undergo medical scans for a full assessment.
Major Blow to Pace Attack
Initial indications suggest the injury could rule Pathirana out for the rest of the World Cup — a significant loss for Sri Lanka’s bowling unit. Known for his slingy action and deadly yorkers, especially at the death, Pathirana has been one of Sri Lanka’s most reliable T20 strike bowlers.
If ruled out, team management is expected to consider Dilshan Madushanka or Nuwan Thushara as potential replacements. While both offer pace and variety, replacing Pathirana’s unique skillset will be a challenge.
Hasaranga Return Under Discussion
In a parallel development, Sri Lanka are reportedly exploring the possibility of bringing Wanindu Hasaranga back into the squad as he continues recovery from a hamstring injury.
Although Hasaranga has not yet regained full match fitness, officials are said to be evaluating whether he could feature later in the tournament — particularly if Sri Lanka qualify for the Super Eight stage.
With their final group match effectively a dead rubber, Sri Lanka have a short window to reassess their injury situation and make strategic decisions. The team management is likely to wait for clearer medical reports before confirming any squad changes.
As the tournament enters a decisive phase, Sri Lanka’s hopes may depend as much on fitness updates as on performances on the field.
-
Football1 year agoSri Lanka Schools National Championship 2025: Super 8 Fixtures and Grouping
-
News1 year ago2025 Schools Rugby Season Set to Thrill Fans with Knockout and League Action
-
Cricket9 months agoNuwan Thushara Shines as RCB Storms into IPL 2025 Final
-
Live4 years agoLive Broadcast of Syria vs Sri Lanka | AFC U23 Asian Championship Qualification
-
News9 months agoMajor Shake-Up in Sports Governance: New 2025 Regulations Reform National Sports Bodies in Sri Lanka
-
Cricket1 year agoSri Lanka’s Greatest Cricketers: Top Batters and Bowlers of All Time
-
Football1 year agoFFSL Rebrands Division-1 as ‘League-One’ with a Bold New Vision
-
Football10 months agoSri Lanka Announces U19 Football Squad for SAFF Championship 2025

