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Tri-Nation Under-19s Tournament in United Arab Emirates
Shevon’s valiant effort was in vain as Afghan edged Sri Lanka by 4 runs
Shevon Daniel’s valiant effort was in vain as Afghanistan Under-19 edged Sri Lanka Under-19 by a thrilling 4 runs in the 6th match of the U-19 Tri-Series at Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi.
Opting to bat first, the Afghans posted a mammoth 323-7 in their allotted 50 overs and in reply Sri Lanka fell 4 runs short of the target, being bowled out for 319 runs.
Afghans were off to a shaky start when their opener Suliman Arabzai (12) fell cheaply when he was caught plumb in front of Vishwa Lahiru’s bowling. His partner Hezbullah Dorani then played a steady inning before he fell for 39 runs.
With the scoreboard reading at 2-67, a game-changing 151-run partnership for the third wicket between skipper Numan Shah and Sohil Khan saw the Afghans gaining back momentum. Numan led from the front with a brilliant century (116 runs off 109 balls), which included 13 fours and 3 sixes, while his partner Sohail Khan played a watchful role, scoring a valuable 52 runs to revive their innings.
The duo smashed the Lankan blowers all over the park until Vishva Rajapaksa got the vital breakthrough to send in-form batter Numan back to the pavilion in the 36th over.
With the damage already done, the Afghans added some crucial runs from down the order that helped them post a mammoth score of 323-7 in their allotted 50 overs.
Haroon Khan also played a crucial role in the latter part of the innings, scoring a quick-fire 56 runs off just 41 balls.
In reply, Sri Lanka was reduced to 3-46 in a run chase which could not afford such a start to the innings.
Desperately needing a huge partnership, skipper Shevon Daniel and Dinura Kalupahana (47) took charge with a 112-run partnership for the fourth wicket to turn things around. The duo showed great maturity and composure, playing sensibly and punishing any loose deliveries until Dinura bit the dust when Nasir Hassan got the breakthrough.
With the scoreboard reading 158-4, another useful 83-run partnership – this time between Shevon and Hiran Jayasundara – saw them getting closer to the target.
Shevon the hero with the bat for Sri Lanka, top scored with a blistering 115 balls and 140 runs including 10 boundaries and 6 sixes in an effort to take his team over the line, but he fell to Bashir Ahmad, who got the breakthrough when he bagged the all-important wicket of Shevon in the 39th over. The responsibility of getting the team over the line now fell into the hands of the lower-order batters.
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Sri Lanka was able to keep up with the run rate and get closer to the target, with a crucial 44-run partnership for the 8th wicket between Vishwa Rajapakse (26) and Duvindu Rantunga (27), until Bashir Ahmad once again delivered with the ball to send Vishwa back to the pavilion.
Duvindu was left to take the game to the final over, with Sri Lanka needing just 6 runs off the last 6 deliveries with 2 wickets in hand. A win for Sri Lanka was written all over, but the Afghans turned the tables to bag the wicket of Duvindu off the first ball of the last over and Treveen Mathew off the 3rd to hand Afghanistan a narrow 4-run victory.
Bashir Ahmad was the pick of the bowlers as he ended up with impressive figures of 10.0-0-37-7.
Brief scores:
Afghanistan: 323-7 (Numan Shah 116, Sohil Khan 52, Haroon Khan 56, Dinura Kalupahana 2-76, Vishva Lahiru 2-41, Vishwa Rajapakse 2-56)
Sri Lanka: 319- all out (49.3) (Shevon Daniel 140, Dinura Kalupahana 47, Bashir Ahmad 7-54)
එක්සත් අරාබි එමීර් රාජ්යයේ පැවැත්වෙන අවුරුදු 19න් පහළ තුන්කොන් තරගාවලිය
ෂෙවෝන්ගේ වීර උත්සාහය නිෂ්ඵල වූ අතර ඇෆ්ගනිස්තානය ශ්රී ලංකාව ලකුණු 4කින් ජය ගත්තේය
ෂෙවෝන් ඩැනියෙල්ගේ අභීත උත්සාහය නිෂ්ඵල වීමත් සමඟ ඇෆ්ගනිස්තාන වයස අවුරුදු 19 න් පහළ ශ්රී ලංකා වයස අවුරුදු 19 න් පහළ තුන්කොන් ක්රිකට් තරගාවලියේ අබුඩාබි හි ටොලරන්ස් ඕවල් ක්රීඩාංගණයේ පැවැති 6 වැනි තරගයෙන් ලකුණු 4 ක තියුණු ජයක් අත්කර ගත්තේය.
පළමුවෙන් පන්දුවට පහරදීමට තීරණය කළ ඇෆ්ගනිස්ථාන කණ්ඩායම නියමිත පන්දුවාර 50 අවසානයේ කඩුලු 7ක් දැවී ලකුණු 323ක් ලබා ගත් අතර පිළිතුරු ලෙස ශ්රී ලංකා කණ්ඩායම ලකුණු 319කට දැවී ගියේ ඉලක්කයට ලකුණු 4ක් අඩුවෙන්.
ඇෆ්ගනිස්තාන් පිලේ ආරම්භක පිතිකරු සුලිමන් අරාබ්සායි (12) විශ්ව ළහිරුගේ පන්දු යැවීම හමුවේ දැවී ගිය අතර, ඇෆ්ගනිස්තාන් පිලේ ආරම්භය නොසන්සුන් විය. අනතුරුව ඔහුගේ සහකරු හිස්බුල්ලා ඩොරානි ලකුණු 39කට දැවී යාමට පෙර ස්ථාවර ඉනිමක් ක්රීඩා කළේය.
ලකුණු පුවරුව 2-67ක් ලෙස සටහන් වෙද්දී, නායක නුමන් ෂා සහ සොහිල් ඛාන් අතර තෙවැනි කඩුල්ල සඳහා ලකුණු 151ක සබඳතාවයක් වෙනස් කරමින් ඇෆ්ගනිස්තාන ක්රීඩකයෝ යළිත් වේගයක් ලබා ගත්හ. හතරේ පහර 13ක් සහ හයේ පහර 3ක් ඇතුළත්ව විශිෂ්ට ශතකයක් (පන්දු 109කදී ලකුණු 116ක්) සමගින් නුමාන් පෙරමුණ ගත් අතර ඔහුගේ සහකරු සොහයිල් ඛාන් අවධානයෙන් පසුවූ අතර අගනා ලකුණු 52ක් රැස්කරමින් ඔවුන්ගේ ඉනිමට පණ දීමට සමත් විය.
36 වැනි ඕවරයේදී ෆෝම් පිතිකරු නුමාන් නැවත මණ්ඩපයට යැවීමට විශ්ව රාජපක්ෂට අත්යවශ්ය පෙරළිය ලැබෙන තෙක් ඔවුන් දෙදෙනා උද්යානය පුරා ලංකා පිපිරුම්කරුවන් බිඳ දැමූහ.
මේ වන විටත් සිදුවී ඇති හානියත් සමඟ ඇෆ්ගනිස්ථානු කණ්ඩායමට නියමිත පන්දුවාර 50 තුළදී ලකුණු 323-7ක දැවැන්ත ලකුණු සංඛ්යාවක් වාර්තා කිරීමට උපකාරී වූ අනුපිළිවෙලින් තීරණාත්මක ලකුණු කිහිපයක් එකතු විය.
හරූන් ඛාන් ද ඉනිමේ අවසාන භාගයේදී තීරණාත්මක කාර්යභාරයක් ඉටු කරමින් වේගවත් ලකුණු 56ක් ලබා ගත්තේ පන්දු 41ක් පමණක් වැය කරමිනි.
පිළිතුරු ඉනිම ක්රීඩා කළ ශ්රී ලංකා ඉනිමේ එවැනි ආරම්භයක් ලබා ගැනීමට නොහැකි වූ ලකුණු හඹායාමකදී ලකුණු 3-46කට සීමා විය.
දැවැන්ත සබඳතාවයක් අවශ්යව තිබියදී නායක ෂෙවෝන් ඩැනියෙල් සහ දිනුර කළුපහන (47) සිවුවැනි කඩුල්ලට ලකුණු 112 ක සම්බන්ධතාවක් පවත්වමින් සියල්ල කණපිට හැරවූහ. නසීර් හසන් පෙරළිය ලබා ගන්නා විට දිනුර කුඩු පට්ටම් ගසන තෙක් ඔවුන් දෙදෙනා ඉතා පරිණතභාවය සහ සන්සුන් භාවය පෙන්නුම් කළ අතර, සංවේදීව ක්රීඩා කළ අතර ඕනෑම ලිහිල් පන්දු යැවීමකට දඬුවම් කළහ.
ලකුණු පුවරුව 158-4ක් ලෙස සටහන් වෙද්දී තවත් ප්රයෝජනවත් ලකුණු 83ක සබඳතාවක් – මෙවර ෂෙවෝන් සහ හිරාන් ජයසුන්දර අතර – ඔවුන් ඉලක්කයට ළං වන අයුරු දැකගත හැකි විය.
ශ්රී ලංකාව වෙනුවෙන් පිත්තෙන් වීරයා වූ ෂෙවෝන් පන්දු 115 කදී හතරේ පහර 10 ක් සහ හයේ පහර 6 ක් සමඟින් ලකුණු 140 ක් රැස්කරමින් තම කණ්ඩායම ඉහළට ගෙනයාමට උත්සාහ කළ නමුත් ඔහු එම පෙරළිය ලබා ගත් බෂීර් අහමඩ් වෙත දැවී ගියේය. 39 වැනි ඕවරයේදී ෂෙවෝන්ගේ වැදගත්ම කඩුල්ල දවා ගත්තේය. කණ්ඩායම ලකුණු මට්ටමෙන් ඉහළට ගෙන ඒමේ වගකීම දැන් පහළ පෙළ පිතිකරුවන් අතට පත් විය.
නියමිත කාල පරතරයන්හිදී කඩුලු බිඳ වැටුණද ලකුණු වේගය පවත්වා ගනිමින් ඉලක්කයට සමීප වීමට ශ්රී ලංකාව සමත් වූ අතර, විශ්ව රාජපක්ෂ (26) සහ දුවිඳු රන්තුංග (27) අතර 8 වැනි කඩුල්ලට ලකුණු 44 ක තීරණාත්මක සබඳතාවක් ගොඩනැගීමට හැකි විය. බෂීර් අහමඩ් යළිත් වරක් පන්දුව ලබා දුන්නේ විශ්ව ආපසු පැවිලියන් වෙත යැවීම සඳහා ය.
තරගය අවසන් ඕවරය දක්වා ගෙන යාමට දුවිඳුට ඉතිරිව තිබූ අතර, ශ්රී ලංකාවට අවසන් පන්දු 6 තුළ කඩුලු 2ක් අතැතිව අවශ්ය වූයේ ලකුණු 6ක් පමණි. ශ්රී ලංකාවට ජයග්රහණයක් මුළුමනින් ලියැවී තිබුණත්, අවසන් ඕවරයේ පළමු පන්දුවෙන් දුවිඳුගේ කඩුල්ලත්, 3 වැනි පන්දුවෙන් ට්රේවින් මැතිව්ගේ කඩුල්ලත් ලබා ගැනීමට ඇෆ්ගනිස්තාන ක්රීඩකයෝ මේස පෙරළූයේ ඇෆ්ගනිස්තානයට ලකුණු 4ක පටු ජයග්රහණයක් ලබා දෙමිනි.
බෂීර් අහමඩ් පන්දු යවන්නන්ගේ තේරීම වූයේ ඔහු 10.0-0-37-7 ලෙස සිත් ඇදගන්නා සුළු සංඛ්යාවන් සමඟින් අවසන් විය.
කෙටි ලකුණු:
ඇෆ්ගනිස්ථානය: 323-7 (නුමන් ෂා 116, සොහිල් ඛාන් 52, හරූන් ඛාන් 56, දිනුර කළුපහන 2-76, විශ්ව ලහිරු 2-41, විශ්ව රාජපක්ෂ 2-56)
ශ්රී ලංකාව: සියලු දෙනා දැවී 319 (49.3) (ෂෙවෝන් ඩැනියෙල් 140, දිනුර කළුපහන 47, බෂීර් අහමඩ් 7-54)
ஐக்கிய அரபு எமிரேட்ஸில் 19 வயதுக்குட்பட்டோருக்கான முத்தரப்புப் போட்டி
ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் அணி இலங்கையை 4 ரன்கள் வித்தியாசத்தில் வீழ்த்தியதால் ஷெவோனின் துணிச்சலான முயற்சி வீணானது
அபுதாபியில் உள்ள டோலரன்ஸ் ஓவல் மைதானத்தில் நடைபெற்ற U-19 முத்தரப்பு தொடரின் 6வது ஆட்டத்தில் 19 வயதுக்குட்பட்டோருக்கான இலங்கை அணியை 4 ரன்கள் வித்தியாசத்தில் ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் அண்டர்-19 அணி வீழ்த்தியதால் ஷெவோன் டேனியலின் துணிச்சலான முயற்சி வீணானது.
முதலில் துடுப்பெடுத்தாடத் தெரிவுசெய்யப்பட்ட ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் அணி நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்ட 50 ஓவர்களில் 323-7 ஓட்டங்களைப் பெற்றது.
விஷ்வா லஹிருவின் பந்துவீச்சில் ஆட்டமிழந்த ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் அணியின் தொடக்க ஆட்டக்காரர் சுலிமான் அராப்சாய் (12) மலிவாக வீழ்ந்தார். அவரது கூட்டாளியான ஹெஸ்புல்லா டோரானி 39 ரன்களுக்கு வீழ்வதற்கு முன் நிலையான இன்னிங்ஸை விளையாடினார்.
ஸ்கோர்போர்டு 2-67 ஆக இருந்த நிலையில், கேப்டன் நுமன் ஷா மற்றும் சோஹில் கான் இடையே மூன்றாவது விக்கெட்டுக்கு 151 ரன் பார்ட்னர்ஷிப் ஆனது ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் அணியை மீண்டும் வேகப்படுத்தியது. நுமான் ஒரு அற்புதமான சதத்துடன் (109 பந்துகளில் 116 ரன்கள்), அதில் 13 பவுண்டரிகள் மற்றும் 3 சிக்ஸர்களுடன் முன்னணியில் இருந்தார், அதே நேரத்தில் அவரது கூட்டாளியான சோஹைல் கான் கவனமாக விளையாடி, மதிப்புமிக்க 52 ரன்கள் எடுத்து அவர்களின் இன்னிங்ஸை மீட்டெடுத்தார்.
36 வது ஓவரில் விஸ்வ ராஜபக்ச இன்-ஃபார்ம் பேட்டர் நுமனை பெவிலியனுக்கு அனுப்புவதற்கான முக்கிய திருப்புமுனையைப் பெறும் வரை இருவரும் பார்க் முழுவதும் லங்கா ப்ளோயர்களை அடித்து நொறுக்கினர்.
ஏற்கனவே சேதம் ஏற்பட்ட நிலையில், ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் வரிசையிலிருந்து சில முக்கியமான ரன்களைச் சேர்த்தது, அது அவர்களுக்கு நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்ட 50 ஓவர்களில் 323-7 என்ற மிகப்பெரிய ஸ்கோரை பதிவு செய்ய உதவியது.
ஹாரூன் கானும் இன்னிங்ஸின் பிற்பகுதியில் முக்கியப் பங்காற்றினார், விரைவாக 41 பந்துகளில் 56 ரன்கள் எடுத்தார்.
பதிலுக்கு துடுப்பெடுத்தாடிய இலங்கை ரன் வேட்டையில் 3-46 என சுருங்கியதால், இன்னிங்ஸைத் தொடங்க முடியவில்லை.
ஒரு பெரிய பார்ட்னர்ஷிப் தேவைப்பட்ட நிலையில், கேப்டன் ஷெவோன் டேனியல் மற்றும் தினுர கலுபஹன (47) ஆகியோர் நான்காவது விக்கெட்டுக்கு 112 ரன் பார்ட்னர்ஷிப்பில் சேர்ந்து நிலைமையை மாற்றினர். இருவரும் சிறந்த முதிர்ச்சியையும் நிதானத்தையும் வெளிப்படுத்தினர், விவேகத்துடன் விளையாடினர் மற்றும் நசீர் ஹாசன் திருப்புமுனையைப் பெற்றபோது தினுரா புழுதியைக் கக்கும் வரை எந்த தளர்வான பந்துகளையும் தண்டித்தார்கள்.
ஸ்கோர்போர்டு 158-4 என்ற நிலையில், மற்றொரு பயனுள்ள 83 ரன் பார்ட்னர்ஷிப் – இந்த முறை ஷெவோன் மற்றும் ஹிரன் ஜெயசுந்தர இடையே – அவர்கள் இலக்கை நெருங்குவதைக் கண்டனர்.
115 பந்துகளில் 10 பவுண்டரிகள் மற்றும் 6 சிக்ஸர்களுடன் 140 ரன்கள் குவித்து இலங்கை அணிக்காக துடுப்பெடுத்தாடிய ஷேவோன், தனது அணியை லைனுக்கு மேல் கொண்டு செல்லும் முயற்சியில் அதிக ரன்களை குவித்தார், ஆனால் அவர் பஷீர் அகமதுவிடம் வீழ்ந்தார். 39வது ஓவரில் ஷெவோனின் அனைத்து முக்கிய விக்கெட்டையும் கைப்பற்றினார். அணியை வெற்றிபெறச் செய்யும் பொறுப்பு இப்போது கீழ்-வரிசை பேட்டர்களின் கைகளில் விழுந்தது.
சீரான இடைவெளியில் விக்கெட்டுகளை இழந்த போதிலும், விஷ்வ ராஜபக்சே (26) மற்றும் துவிந்து ரந்துங்கா (27) ஆகியோருக்கு இடையேயான 8வது விக்கெட்டுக்கு 44 ரன்களின் முக்கியமான பார்ட்னர்ஷிப் மூலம், இலங்கை ரன் ரேட்டைத் தக்க வைத்துக் கொண்டு இலக்கை நெருங்க முடிந்தது. விஷ்வாவை மீண்டும் பெவிலியனுக்கு அனுப்ப, பஷீர் அகமது மீண்டும் பந்தில் பந்து வீசினார்.
கடைசி 6 பந்துகளில் 2 விக்கெட்டுகள் கைவசம் இருக்க இலங்கைக்கு 6 ரன்கள் மட்டுமே தேவைப்பட்ட நிலையில், துவிந்து ஆட்டத்தை இறுதி ஓவருக்கு எடுத்துச் செல்ல எஞ்சியிருந்தார். இலங்கைக்கு ஒரு வெற்றி என்று எழுதப்பட்டது, ஆனால் கடைசி ஓவரின் முதல் பந்தில் துவிந்துவின் விக்கெட்டையும், 3வது பந்தில் ட்ரெவீன் மேத்யூவின் விக்கெட்டையும் கைப்பற்ற ஆப்கானிஸ்தான் அட்டவணையை மாற்றியது, ஆப்கானிஸ்தானை 4 ரன்கள் வித்தியாசத்தில் வெற்றி பெற்றது.
பஷீர் அகமது 10.0-0-37-7 என்ற அற்புதமான புள்ளிகளுடன் முடிவடைந்ததால், பந்துவீச்சாளர்களின் தேர்வாக இருந்தார்.
சுருக்கமான மதிப்பெண்கள்:
ஆப்கானிஸ்தான்: 323-7 (நுமன் ஷா 116, சோஹில் கான் 52, ஹாரூன் கான் 56, தினுர கலுபஹானா 2-76, விஷ்வ லஹிரு 2-41, விஷ்வ ராஜபக்சே 2-56)
இலங்கை: 319- ஆல் அவுட் (49.3) (ஷெவோன் டேனியல் 140, தினுர கலுபஹானா 47, பஷீர் அஹமட் 7-54)
News
ISKA Appoints Dayan Samarasekara as National Director for Sri Lanka
The International Sport Kickboxing Association (ISKA) has appointed Dayan Samarasekara as the National Director for Sri Lanka, recognizing his longstanding contribution to the development and modernisation of combat sports in the country.

Samarasekara has played a pivotal role in elevating Sri Lanka’s combat sports sector and has also been instrumental in supporting the professionalisation of combat sports across the South Asian region. His vision and commitment have been acknowledged through this significant appointment by ISKA.
Currently serving as the Co-Founder and Combat Sports Director of KFL, Samarasekara continues to work towards expanding and strengthening combat sports in Sri Lanka. ISKA has expressed confidence that, together with his leadership, the organisation will be able to further broaden the footprint and recognition of combat sports within the country.

About ISKA
The International Sport Kickboxing Association (ISKA), established in 1986, is the world’s most widely recognised sanctioning and regulatory body for over 20 combat sports and competitive martial arts disciplines.
ISKA is dedicated to training officials, updating competition rules, and upholding global standards, integrity, and professionalism while identifying champions and elite competitors worldwide.
The association regulates top-tier global events such as the US OPEN World Martial Arts Championships and GLORY.
Cricket
Sri Lanka Stun Pakistan to Seal Final Spot After Dramatic Tri-Series Turnaround in Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi, Nov. 27 – Sri Lanka mounted a remarkable comeback in the Pakistan T20I Tri-Series, defeating the hosts by 6 runs in a tense final league-stage encounter to secure their place in Saturday’s grand finale. The victory completes a spirited late surge from the Islanders, who began the series with two deflating defeats but responded with back-to-back wins to keep their title hopes alive.
Sri Lanka’s Road to the Final – From Early Struggles to Strong Recovery
Sri Lanka’s campaign began on the wrong foot, suffering a heavy 67-run defeat against Zimbabwe and a 7-wicket loss to Pakistan in their first two outings. Their batting struggled for rhythm, and the bowling failed to contain opposition top orders.
But the narrative shifted dramatically in the last two matches:
Match 5: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe – A Statement Win
- Zimbabwe: 146/5
- Sri Lanka: 148/1 (16.2 ov)
Sri Lanka dominated with a 9-wicket win, powered by an authoritative chase that restored confidence ahead of the Pakistan clash.
Today’s Match: Sri Lanka Defend 184 in a Rawalpindi Thriller
Sri Lanka – 184/5 (20 ov)
A superb innings from Kavindu Mishara (50 off 34) anchored Sri Lanka’s approach, supported by contributions from Kusal Mendis, Janith Liyanage, and Kusal Perera. Partnerships were steady, with Sri Lanka crossing key milestones — 100 in 11.1 overs and 150 in 16.2 — setting up a competitive 184.
Pakistan – 178/7 (20 ov)
Pakistan’s innings was rocked early, reduced to 45/4 in the Powerplay, thanks to Sri Lanka’s fiery pace attack.
Dushmantha Chameera, later named Player of the Match, delivered when it mattered most.
Agha Salman (50 off 35) and Usman Khan attempted a rebuild with a 50-run partnership, but Sri Lanka’s bowlers held their nerve at the death.
Pakistan reviewed twice unsuccessfully in tense moments but ultimately fell short by 6 runs.
Series Summary So Far
| Match | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan vs Zimbabwe | Pakistan | 5 wickets |
| Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka | Zimbabwe | 67 runs |
| Sri Lanka vs Pakistan | Pakistan | 7 wickets |
| Pakistan vs Zimbabwe | Pakistan | 69 runs |
| Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | 9 wickets |
| Sri Lanka vs Pakistan (today) | Sri Lanka | 6 runs |
Pakistan finished the league matches with 3 wins, Sri Lanka with 2, and Zimbabwe with 1.
Final: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka – What to Expect on Nov. 29
The final between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is shaping up as a high-stakes rematch. Both teams have beaten each other once in the series, making this final evenly poised.
Pakistan Strengths
- Explosive top order (Babar not featured in league matches but expected for final)
- Strong seam attack at home conditions
- Ability to accelerate in middle overs
Sri Lanka Strengths
- Momentum after two consecutive victories
- Improved batting with stable partnerships
- A rejuvenated pace attack led by Chameera and a disciplined spin unit
Key Battles
- Sri Lanka openers vs Shaheen Afridi
- Agha Salman vs Hasaranga/slow bowlers
- Middle-overs match-up: Mendis vs Shadab Khan
Prediction: A Close Final, Momentum Favors Sri Lanka Slightly
With Rawalpindi offering good batting conditions under lights, a totals around 165–180 will be par.
Pakistan remain favorites at home, but Sri Lanka’s recent form gives them a genuine chance to upset the hosts. If Mishara, Mendis, or Liyanage fire again and Chameera continues his rhythm, Sri Lanka could edge Pakistan in a tight contest.
Predicted Winner (slight edge): Sri Lanka – if they bat first and defend with confidence.
Cricket
SSC Ground Begins Major Upgrades Ahead of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Colombo, Nov. 27 – The historic Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground is undergoing significant redevelopment as Sri Lanka prepares to co-host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 alongside India. One of the most notable upgrades is the long-awaited installation of floodlights, marking a new chapter for one of the country’s most prestigious cricket venues.
SSC has traditionally been a venue for day matches, regularly hosting domestic cricket and women’s internationals. For years, Colombo’s day-night fixtures were primarily steered towards the R. Premadasa Stadium, the city’s largest ground equipped for evening play.

With the World Cup approaching — scheduled from 7 February to 8 March 2026 — SSC is set to take on a more prominent role. The venue will host five group-stage matches, including its first-ever World Cup night game. The opening fixture at SSC will be on 7 February, featuring Pakistan vs Netherlands, followed by the ground’s first floodlit World Cup encounter on 9 February, when Zimbabwe meet Oman at 3:00 PM local time.
The only full night match scheduled at SSC is the high-profile clash between Pakistan and the USA on 10 February at 7:00 PM.
Cricket authorities noted that the addition of floodlights will not only support Sri Lanka’s World Cup commitments but also expand SSC’s long-term hosting capabilities. Once completed, the upgrades could pave the way for future day-night Test matches and domestic tournament games under lights — potentially elevating SSC’s status as a top-tier international venue.
With construction and installations now in progress, the SSC Ground is gearing up to reassert its place among Sri Lanka’s elite cricket stadiums — this time with the glow of modern stadium lighting.
T20 World Cup 2026 – Fixtures at SSC Ground, Colombo
- Feb 7: Pakistan vs Netherlands – 11:00 AM (IST)
- Feb 9: Zimbabwe vs Oman – 3:00 PM (IST)
- Feb 10: Pakistan vs USA – 7:00 PM (IST)
- Feb 14: Ireland vs Oman – 11:00 AM (IST)
- Feb 18: Pakistan vs Namibia – 3:00 PM (IST)
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