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Waseem complains Football Federation and decided not to participate in the Asian Cup qualifying round.
Waseem Raseek is the highest goal-scoring footballer in recent times who has brought many victories to Sri Lanka in football. However, he has recently stated that he is very concerned about the Sri Lankan football administration. He also announced that he would not be participating in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC Asain Cup 2023) qualifiers final round.
He pointed out that the main reason for the unavailability of the qualifying round of the Asian Cup was the irresponsible acts of the Football Federation Administration. A few days ago, in response to an email from the Football Federation asking Waseem when he would return to the national team and his demands, he announced that he would take part in the Asian Cup qualifying round from the 28th of May but the administration should fulfil his agreed promises in the past.
Waseem stated that he had faced similar breaches of promise before. He also said that he was not given proper treatment at the national football training camp in Beddagana and was not even given proper food and drinks.
He also noted that the Football Federation has not awarded contracts to players as promised to the national team in the past. At a meeting in July 2021, he said they were promised a one-year contract with a salary, but that did not happen later. Waseem said the federation did not respond to his inquiry on this same.
“I’m a professional footballer. I’m a married father. Everywhere I played before I had the right contract amount and time, and every player had insurance. When sudden injuries occur when we play, in such cases, money for surgery can be obtained from the insurance.
He also said that some people in the federation had tried to damage his professional career by smearing him with mud and he was ready to face them.
Waseem also said that he had decided not to play in the Asian Cup qualifiers due to the selection of new players with less international experience who were found in the recent inter-provincial football tournament without selecting the players in the national team.
Sri Lanka has shown the best results so far in the Asian Cup qualifiers. This is not the time to give new players an international experience. Sujan and I have been planning for this tournament for a long time.
This is the most important competition for us. So this requires better-experienced players. If any match ends in victory, that pride goes to the management. But failure seems to be the players’ fault.
“Recently, the Sri Lankan football team has emerged as one of the best teams in South Asia. We have the support of players from countries like India and the Maldives. If we lose that respect like this they will look at us again and laugh. Another, I came to play for Sri Lanka after playing in foreign Football clubs. That is why the spectators in our country still treat me as a foreigner. They expect me to play to the fullest. But in a situation like this, it is difficult for me to give my fullest strength. ”
Asked if he would play for the national team again, he said he was definitely interested in playing for the national team.
වසීම්ගෙන් පාපන්දු සම්මේලනයට චෝදනා – ආසියානු කුසලාන සුදුසුකම් ලැබීමේ තරගාවලියට සහභාගි නොවී සිටිමටත් තීරණයක්…..
වසීම් රාසික් පාපන්දු ක්රීඩාවෙන් මෙරටට ජයග්රහණ රැසක් අත්කර දීමට උර දුන් ප්රමුඛ පෙළේ පාපන්දු ක්රීඩකයෙකි. කෙසේවෙතත් ඔහු ශ්රී ලාංකේය පාපන්දු පරිපාලනය සම්බන්ධව දැඩි කනස්සල්ලකින් පසු වන බව මෑතකදී ඔහු විසින් ම දන්වා තිබුණි. එමෙන් ම ඔහු ඉදිරියේ දී පැවැත්වීමට නියමිත ආසියානු පාපන්දු කුසලාන සුදුසුකම් ලැබීමේ තරගාවලිය සඳහා සහභාගි නොවීමට තීරණය කර තිබේ.
ආසියානු පාපන්දු කුසලානයට සුදුසුකම් ලැබීමේ තරගාවලියට සහභාගි නොවී සිටිමට ඔහු තීරණය කළේ ඇයි දැයි විමසීමේදි ඔහුගේ පිළිතුර වූයේ මේ සඳහා හේතු ගණනාවක් බලපා ඇති බවයි. ඒ අතරින් ආසන්නතම හේතුව ලෙස ඔහු දැක්වූයේ පාපන්දු සම්මේලනයේ වගකීම් විරහිත ක්රියාකලාපයයි.
මීට දින කිහිපයකට පෙර පාපන්දු සම්මේලනයෙන්, ඔහු නැවත ජාතික කණ්ඩායමට එකතු වන්නේ කවදාද සහ ඔහුගේ ඉල්ලීම් විමසමින් වසීම් වෙත එවූ ලිපියට පිළිතුරු ලෙස මේ මස 28 දින සිට ආසියනු කුසලාන සුදුසුකම් ලැබීමේ තරගාවලියට සහභාගි වන බව දන්වා ඇති අතර ඔහුට මින් පෙර ලබාදුන් පොරොන්දු ඉටුකරන ලෙසත් දන්වා තිබේ.
තමන්ට මීට පෙරත් මෙවැනි ම පොරොන්දු පැහැර හැරීමේ සිදුවීම්වලට මුහුණ දීමට සිදුවී ඇති බව වසීම් ප්රකාශ කළේය. එමෙන් ම බැද්දගානේදී පැවති ජාතික පාපන්දු පුහුණු කඳවුරේදී ඔහුට නිසි සැළකීමක් නොකළ බවත්, ඔහුට නිසි ලෙස ආහාරපාන පවා ලබා නොදුන් බවත් සඳහන් කළේ ය.
එමෙන්ම පාපන්දු සම්මේලනය විසින් මින් පෙරදීත් ජාතික කණ්ඩායමට පොරොන්දු වූ පරිදි ක්රීඩක කොන්ත්රාත්තු ලබා නොදීම පිළිබඳව ද මෙහිදි ඔහු සඳහන් කළේ ය. ඒ 2021 ජූලි මස තිබූ හමුවකදි ඔවුන්ට වසරක ක්රීඩක කොන්ත්රාතුවක් වැටුපක් සහිතව ලබා දෙන බව ඔවුන් පොරොන්දු වූවත් පසුව එසේ සිදුනොවූ බව ඔහු පැවසීය. ඒ සම්බන්ධයෙන් ඔහු සිදු කළ විමසීම්වලදි සම්මේලනයෙන් නිසි ප්රතිචාරයක් නොලැබූ බවද වසීම් ප්රකාශ කළේ ය.
“මම වෘත්තිය පාපන්දු ක්රීඩකයෙන්. මම විවාහක පියෙක්. මම මීට පෙර ක්රීඩා කළ සෑම තැනකදීම නිසි කොන්ත්රාත් මුදල හා කාලයක් තිබුණා. ඒ වගේම සෑම ක්රීඩකයෙක්ට ම රක්ෂණයක් තිබුනා. අපිට ක්රීඩා කරන විට හදිසි ආබාධ වෙන්න පුළුවන්. ඒ වගේ වෙලාවක රක්ෂණයෙන් අපිට අපේ ශල්යකර්ම සඳහා මුදල් ලබාගන්න පුළුවන්. ඒක පරිපාලනයේ වගකීමක්.”
තවද ඔහු මේ සම්බන්ධව විමසීම හේතුවෙන් සම්මේලනය ඇතුළත සමහරක් පිරිස ඔහුගේ වෘත්තිය ජීවිතයට හානි කරමින් මඩ ප්රහාර එල්ල කිරීමට ද උත්සහයක් දැරූ බවත් ඔහු ඒවාට මුහුණ දීමට සූදානමින් සිටි බවත් පැවසීය.
ජාතික කණ්ඩායමේ සිටින ක්රීඩකයන් තෝරා නොගෙන මෑතකදි පැවති අන්තර් පළාත් පාපන්දු තරගාවලියෙන් හමු වු ජාත්යන්තර අත්දැකීම් අඩු නවක ක්රීඩකයන්ව ආසියානු කුසලාන සුදුසුකම් ලැබීමේ තරගාවලියට තෝරාගැනීම නිසා එම තරගාවලියට ක්රීඩා නොකර සිටිමට තමා තීරණය කළ බව ද වසීම් පැවැසුවේ ය.
“ආසියානු කුසලාන සුදුසුකම් ලැබීමේ තරගාවලිය මෙතෙක් ශ්රී ලංකාව ලඟා කරගත් ඉහළම දක්ෂතාවයක්.එවැනි වැදගත් තරගයකට ජාත්යන්තර අත්දැකීම් අඩු නවක ක්රීඩකයන් තෝරගැනීම ඔවුන්ටත් මේ රටටත් කරන අසාධාරණයක්. එම නවක ක්රීඩකයන් හට ජාත්යන්තර අත්දැකීම් ලබාදීමට සුදුසු වෙලාව මේක නෙමෙයි. මේ තරගාවලිය සඳහා මම හා සුජාන් බොහෝ කාලයක සිට සැලසුම් කරා. මේක අපට ගොඩක් වැදගත් තරගයක්. ඒ නිසා අපිට මේකට අපේ දක්ෂතම අත්දැකීම් බහුල ක්රීඩකයන් අවශ්ය වෙනවා. ඕනෑම තරගාවලියක අවසානය ජයග්රාහි ලෙස අවසන් වුනොත් ඒකේ ක්රෙඩිට් එක යන්නේ පරිපාලනයට. ඒත් පරාජයක් වුනොත් ඒක ක්රීඩකයන්ගේ වැරද්දක් විදියට තමා පෙනෙන්නේ .
පසුගිය කාලය තුළ ශ්රී ලංකා පාපන්දු කණ්ඩායම දකුණු ආසියාවේ නැගී එන කණ්ඩායමක් වෙමින් තිබුණේ. අපට ඉන්දීයාව, මාලදිවයින වැනි රටවල්වල ක්රීඩකයන්ගෙන් ලොකු ප්රසාදයක් තියෙනවා. ඒ ගෞරවය මේ විදියට නැතිකරගත්තොත් නැවත් ඔවුන් අපට සිනාසේවි. අනෙක් කාරණය නම්, මම විදෙස් ක්රීඩා සමාජවල ක්රීඩා කරලා ලංකාව වෙනුවෙන් ක්රීඩාකරන්න පැමිණි කෙනෙක්. තවමත් ඒ නිසා අපේ රටේ ප්රේක්ෂකයන් මට සළකන්නේ විදේශිකයෙක් ලෙසයි. ඔවුන් මගෙන් බලාපොරොත්තු වෙන්නේ උපරිමයෙන් ක්රීඩා කිරීමයි. ඒත් මේ වගේ තත්වයක් මත මගේ උපරිමය දෙන්න අමාරුයි.”
නැවත ඔහු ජාතික කණ්ඩායමයට ක්රීඩා කරනවාද යන පැනයට පිළිතුරු ලෙස ඔහු කියා සිටියේ, ඔහු නිසැකවම ජාතික කණ්ඩායමට ක්රීඩාකිරිමේ කැමැත්තෙන් සිටින බවයි.
“අනිවාර්යෙන්ම මම ඉදිරියටත් රට වෙනුවෙන් ක්රීඩා කරනවා. මේක මගේ වගකීමක්, රාජකාරියක් වගේම රටට කළ යුතු සේවාවක්. මම ගොඩක් කැමත්තෙන් ක්රීඩා කරනවා. මම තාමත් හිතන්නේ මෙම තරගාවලිය කොහොමද ක්රීඩාකරන්නේ කියලා. මට ගොඩක් හිතට දුකයි මේ වගේ අවස්ථාවක අපේ ජාතික කණ්ඩායමේ උපරිම දක්ෂතාවය ලබාගන්න බැරිවීම ගැන. මම තවමත් හිතනවා පරිපාලනය මේ ප්රශ්නයට නිසි පිළිතුරක් දෙයි කියලා. එහෙම වුනොත් මම අනිවාර්යෙන්ම මෙම තරගාවලියට ක්රීඩා කරනවා.”
வசிம் கால்பந்தாட்ட சம்மேளனம் மீது குற்றச்சாட்டு …. ஆசியகிண்ண தகுதி சுற்றில் பங்கேற்காது இருக்கவும் தீர்மானம்….
வாசிம் ராசிக் கால்பந்தாட்டத்தில் இலங்கைக்கு பல வெற்றிகளைப் பெற்றுத் தந்த முன்னணி கால்பந்து வீரர் ஆவார். எவ்வாறாயினும், இலங்கை கால்பந்தாட்ட நிர்வாகம் தொடர்பில் தாம் மிகுந்த கவலையடைவதாக அவரே அண்மையில் தெரிவித்திருந்தார். மேலும் ஆசிய கால்பந்து சம்மேளனத்தின் (AFC) தகுதிச் சுற்றுப் போட்டிகளில் பங்கேற்கப் போவதில்லை என்றும் அவர் அறிவித்துள்ளார்.
ஆசிய கோப்பைக்கு தகுதி சுற்றில் பங்கு பற்றாமைக்கு முக்கிய காரணம் கால்பந்து சம்மேளனத்தின் பொறுப்பற்ற செயற்பாடு என்று அவர் குறிப்பிட்டார்.
சில நாட்களுக்கு முன்பு, கால்பந்து கூட்டமைப்பு, வாசிம் எப்போது தேசிய அணிக்கு திரும்புவார் என்று கேட்டு அனுப்பிய கடிதம் மற்றும் அவரது கோரிக்கைகளுக்கு பதிலளிக்கும் வகையில், அவர் கடந்த மாதம் 28 ஆம் தேதி முதல் ஆசிய கோப்பை தகுதிச் சுற்றில் பங்கேற்பேன் என்றும் தனது முந்தைய வாக்குறுதிகளை நிறைவேற்றுமாறும் அவர் அறிவித்தார்.
இதற்கு முன்னரும் இவ்வாறான வாக்குறுதி மீறல்களை எதிர்கொண்டதாக வாசிம் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். மேலும், பெத்தகனில் நடைபெற்ற தேசிய கால்பந்து பயிற்சி முகாமில் தனக்கு உரிய சிகிச்சை அளிக்கப்படவில்லை என்றும், சரியான உணவு, பானங்கள் கூட வழங்கப்படவில்லை என்றும் அவர் கூறினார்.
கடந்த காலங்களில் தேசிய அணிக்கு உறுதியளித்தபடி கால்பந்து சம்மேளனம் வீரர்களுக்கான ஒப்பந்தங்களை வழங்கவில்லை எனவும் அவர் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளார். ஜூலை 2021 இல் நடந்த கூட்டத்தில், சம்பளத்துடன் ஒரு வருட விளையாட்டு ஒப்பந்தம் அவர்களுக்கு உறுதியளிக்கப்பட்டது, ஆனால் அது பின்னர் நடக்கவில்லை என்று கூறினார். இது தொடர்பாக தாம் கேட்டதற்கு சம்மேளனம் பதிலளிக்கவில்லை என்றும் வாசிம் கூறினார்.
“நான் ஒரு தொழில்முறை கால்பந்து வீரர். நான் திருமணமான தந்தை. முன்பு நான் விளையாடிய எல்லா இடங்களிலும் சரியான ஒப்பந்தத் தொகையும் நேரமும் இருந்தது. மேலும் ஒவ்வொரு வீரருக்கும் காப்பீடு இருந்தது. நாம் விளையாடும் போது திடீர் காயங்கள் ஏற்படும். இதுபோன்ற சமயங்களில் அறுவை சிகிச்சைக்கான பணத்தை காப்பீட்டில் இருந்து பெறலாம். அது நிர்வாகத்தின் பொறுப்பு.”
மேலும், சம்மேளனத்தில் உள்ள சிலர் சேறு பூசி தனது தொழில் முறை விளையாட்டு வாழ்க்கையை சேதப்படுத்த முயற்சித்ததாகவும், அவற்றை எதிர்கொள்ள தயாராக இருப்பதாகவும் அவர் கூறினார்.
அண்மையில் நடைபெற்ற மாகாணங்களுக்கிடையிலான கால்பந்தாட்டப் போட்டியிலிருந்து சர்வதேச அனுபவம் குறைந்த புதிய வீரர்கள் தெரிவு செய்யப்பட்டமையினால் ஆசியக் கிண்ணத் தகுதிச் சுற்றுப் போட்டிகளில் விளையாடுவதில்லை எனத் தீர்மானித்ததாகவும் வாசிம் தெரிவித்தார்.
ஆசியக் கிண்ணத் தகுதிச் சுற்றுப் போட்டிகள் இலங்கை இதுவரை சிறந்த பெறுபேற்றை வெளிப்படுத்தியுள்ளது. புதிய வீரர்களுக்கு சர்வதேச அனுபவத்தை அளிக்க இது நேரமில்லை. நானும் சுஜானும் இந்த போட்டிக்காக நீண்ட நாட்களாக திட்டமிட்டு வருகிறோம்.
இது எங்களுக்கு மிக முக்கியமான போட்டி. எனவே இதற்கு சிறந்த அனுபவமிக்க வீரர்கள் தேவை. எந்த ஒரு போட்டியும் வெற்றியில் முடிந்தால், அதன் பெருமை நிர்வாகத்திற்கே செல்கிறது. ஆனால் தோல்வி ஏற்பட்டால் அது வீரர்களின் தவறாகத் தெரிகிறது.
“அண்மைக்காலமாக இலங்கை உதைபந்தாட்ட அணி தெற்காசியாவில் ஒரு சிறந்த அணியாக வலம் வருகின்றது. இந்தியா, மாலத்தீவு போன்ற நாடுகளில் உள்ள வீரர்களின் ஆதரவு எங்களுக்கு அதிகம். அந்த மரியாதையை இப்படி இழந்தால் மீண்டும் நம்மைப் பார்த்து சிரிப்பார்கள். மற்றொன்று, நான் வெளிநாட்டு விளையாட்டுக் கழகங்களில் விளையாடிவிட்டு இலங்கைக்காக விளையாட வந்தேன்.அதனால்தான் நம் நாட்டில் உள்ள பார்வையாளர்கள் என்னை இன்னும் வெளிநாட்டவராகவே நடத்துகிறார்கள். நான் முழுமையாக விளையாட வேண்டும் என்று எதிர்பார்க்கிறார்கள். ஆனால் இதுபோன்ற சூழ்நிலையில் என்னால் உயர்மட்ட திறமையை வெளிப்படுத்த கடினம். ”
மீண்டும் தேசிய அணிக்காக விளையாடுவாரா என்ற கேள்விக்கு பதிலளித்த அவர், தேசிய அணியில் விளையாடுவதில் நிச்சயம் ஆர்வமாக உள்ளேன் என்றார்.
Cricket
Government Weighs Overhaul of Sri Lanka Cricket Amid ICC Talks
Sri Lanka’s Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage has revealed that discussions are currently underway with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding possible reforms to the administration of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). A final decision is expected within the coming week, as the government seeks to avoid the risk of sanctions from the ICC.
Speaking on the matter, Minister Gamage confirmed that options such as appointing an interim committee or a competent authority are being considered. He noted that President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka is directly involved in the talks, underscoring the government’s determination to restore credibility and raise cricketing standards in the country.
The announcement follows comments made by Minister Nalinda Jayathissa, who stated that the government will soon take decisive action on the legal and administrative framework of SLC.
Sri Lanka Cricket has faced mounting criticism after the men’s national team failed to qualify for the semi‑finals of the recently concluded T20 World Cup, co‑hosted by Sri Lanka and India. The disappointment adds to a troubling record: the team has now gone 12 years without reaching the semi‑finals of any ICC tournament, a stark contrast to its former reputation as a consistent global contender.
Cricket
South Africa misses yet another ICC trophy as NZ knocked South Africa out in Semis
South Africa’s long wait for an ICC trophy continued as they suffered another heartbreaking exit, this time at the hands of New Zealand in the first semi-final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at Mumbai on Wednesday. The Proteas, who had finished runners-up in the last edition, were outplayed by nine wickets in a contest that highlighted both their misfortune and New Zealand’s ruthless efficiency.
Batting first, South Africa managed 169 for 8 in their 20 overs. Captain Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock fell cheaply, leaving the middle order under pressure. Dewald Brevis showed promise with a fluent 34, while Tristan Stubbs added 29. The standout was Marco Jansen, who smashed an unbeaten 55 off just 30 balls, lifting the total to a competitive score. Yet, frequent wickets at crucial stages meant South Africa never truly seized momentum.

New Zealand’s reply was nothing short of brutal. Finn Allen launched a stunning assault, hammering 100 off just 33 balls, including 10 fours and 8 sixes. Tim Seifert’s 58 ensured the chase was never in doubt, and the Black Caps cruised home in just 12.5 overs. South Africa’s bowlers, including Jansen and Bosch, were taken apart, with economy rates soaring above 11.
Cricket
Navin Dissanayake Concedes Error Over 2015 Sri Lanka Cricket Election
Former Sports Minister Navin Dissanayake has admitted that his decision in 2015 to cancel the Sri Lanka Cricket elections and appoint an Interim Committee was a serious mistake. The move, which blocked Nishantha Ranatunga from becoming president, has long been debated in cricketing circles, and Dissanayake’s recent reflection has reignited discussion about missed opportunities in the sport’s governance.
In a candid post on X, Dissanayake acknowledged that he should have supported Ranatunga, who served as SLC Secretary from 2009 to 2015. That period is widely regarded as one of the most successful eras in Sri Lankan cricket, with the national team reaching multiple finals and securing major titles. “In hindsight I should have backed Nishantha and ensured he won the election without problems with the ICC,” Dissanayake wrote, admitting regret over his decision. He revealed that despite warnings from advisors that the International Cricket Council would not approve an Interim Committee, he went ahead with the appointment, leading to two years of negotiations over reforms. He also pointed to political interference at the time, saying the environment did not allow him to support Ranatunga’s election.
Ranatunga’s tenure as Secretary coincided with a golden run for Sri Lanka. Between 2009 and 2015, the team reached the finals of the 2009 T20 World Cup, the 2011 Cricket World Cup, and the 2012 T20 World Cup, before finally clinching the 2014 T20 World Cup and the 2014 Asia Cup. Serving under presidents DS de Silva, Upali Dharmadasa, and Jayantha Dharmadasa, Ranatunga was credited with a steady and effective administrative role that helped guide the team through this remarkable period.
Dissanayake’s admission comes at a time when Sri Lankan cricket is once again under scrutiny, following a disastrous campaign at the ongoing T20 World Cup. His remarks have reopened old wounds and revived questions about what might have been had Ranatunga been elected in 2015. With the sport facing another crossroads, the former minister’s reflection underscores the long-standing challenges of governance and political interference in cricket administration, and the lingering sense of opportunities lost.
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