Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

by Rex Clementine

The national cricket team will emplane for Johannesburg this evening on a seven week tour of South Africa where they will play three Test matches and five One Day Internationals.

This is Sri Lanka`s first Test tour to South Africa in 10 years.

Sri Lanka have a horrendous record in South Africa, having lost all but one Test match they have played there.

Agence France-Presse

Sri Lanka`s sports minister has told the nation`s cricket team to start talking to each other to help end their losing streak, saying a lack of communication was the main problem in the squad.

Sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage met the players, selectors and administrators on Tuesday to find a solution ahead of next month`s Test and one-day tour of South Africa.

Captain of the national cricket team, Tillakaratne Dilshan was named as the Cricketer of the Year 2011 at the Annual CEAT-SLC Cricket Awards held at Waters Edge, Colombo last night.

Dilshan scored 552 runs in eight Tests with a career best 193 at Lord`s in June while in ODIs, he scored 836 runs in 21 games with three hundreds during the period when performances were considered. He was also named Best ODI Cricketer, Best ODI All-Rounder and Best ODI Batsman.

by Rex Clementine

Prolific middle order batsman Thilan Samaraweera has been added to the national cricket squad to tour South Africa early next month.

`I had a meeting with the national selectors today and they made a request to add Thilan as an additional player and I have approved that request,` Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage told The Island yesterday.

Former captain Mahela Jayawardene is nursing a knee injury and although there`s no danger in him missing out on the tour, the national cricket selectors had requested for Samaraweera as cover.

By Harshini Weeraratne

Kumar Dharmasena, who made a name in the field of cricket nationally and internationally, is the youngest in the international umpiring field. Nicknamed quite appropriately at school as Pansal Kumaraya (for his pencil thin stature) and Unanduwa (the determined one), Kumar and wife Dushyanthi agreed to share some of their experiences with The Nation.

Q. Shall we begin with your being the youngest cricket umpire internationally?

Pakistan cricket going in the right direction

By M. Shamil Amit Reporting from Dubai

Sri Lankan skipper T.M. Dilshan hopes that the Lankan fans back home would have patience with his team and understand their plight.

In one of the worst tours undertaken in recent times Sri Lanka on Friday lost the final game on their tour of the Middle-East going down to Pakistan in their one-off T-20 game by five wickets. They also lost the Test series 1-0 while losing the one-day series 4-1.

Skipper Misbah-ul Haq and Umar Akmal hit half centuries to help Pakistan upstage Sri Lanka by three wickets in the fifth and final day-night international at Abu Dhabi Stadium here on Wednesday. Misbah hit an attractive 66 while Akmal finished on an unbeaten 61 to help Pakistan made light work of the Sri Lankan total of 218-9 as they reached home in 47.2 overs to take the five-match series 4-1.

The victory, followed a 1-0 win in the three-Test series, lifted Pakistan to fifth in the International Cricket Council`s one-day rankings. Misbah added 62 for the third wicket with Younis Khan (34) after Pakistan lost openers Mohammad Hafeez (14) and Asad Shafiq (26) in a shaky start. Even when leg-spinner Jeevan Mendis removed Younis and Shoaib Malik both trapped leg-before off successive deliveries, Misbah and Akmal made sure Pakistan finished on the winning side.

Sri Lanka will be trying to salvage their pride in the final One-Day International against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi after losing the five match series with a game to spare. Since the ICC World Cup in April this year, Sri Lanka have suffered series defeats to England, Australia and now Pakistan and will be searching for a consolation win in today`s game.

Prior to the ODI series, Sri Lanka also lost the three match Test series 1-0.

ESPNcricinfo staff

Ajantha Mendis has been included in Sri Lanka`s 16-man Test squad for the tour of South Africa in December ahead of the offspinner Suraj Randiv. There was no place for the experienced batsman Thilan Samaraweera, who continues to be ignored after having been axed for the Pakistan series as well.

The squad also includes fast bowler Dilhara Fernando - who last played a Test on the England tour - in place of the injured Dhammika Prasad. Fernando, Chanaka Welegedara, Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal complete the Sri Lanka pace attack with Rangana Herath the second spinner.

By K.R. Nayar, Chief Cricket Writer

Sharjah: With Sri Lanka having lost the Test and one-day series in UAE, their skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan`s future as the captain is now uncertain. He was a shattered man after the defeat in Sharjah against Pakistan.

Since the 2011 World Cup, Sri Lanka has lost to England, Australia and now Pakistan. When asked whether he might be removed from the captaincy, he said: `I don`t know. They appointed me until the South Africa series. Let`s see how things go on.`

It was Afridi`s day and Pakistan recorded an exciting 26 runs win over Sri Lanka

By K.R. Nayar, Chief Cricket Writer

Sharjah: Shahid Afridi, the hero of thousands of UAE cricket fans, ignited the excitement of Sharjah`s Cricket Stadium`s return to international cricket through an electrifying knock of 75 runs and a deadly spell of 5 for 35 to help Pakistan win the series 3-1.

Captain wants all Sri Lankans to attend match

By K.R. Nayar, Chief Cricket Writer

Dubai: Sri Lankan skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan wants support from the fans. So intense is his team`s battle against Pakistan that he wants all Sri Lankans in the UAE to turn up for today`s crucial third one-day match.

`My boys can find more energy if the fans are supporting them. I have been enjoying their support and the papare band which we are used to back home,` said Dilshan as George Hettiaratchy, a Sri Lankan supporter, was busy ensuring his band`s presence at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Ranjan ANANDAPPA reporting from UAE

A buoyant Sri Lanka captain Tillkeratne Dilshan is hoping to maintain the same momentum in the third One Day International as they did in the second one which the Lankans recorded a 25 run win to square the series last Monday.

Today being a holiday in the UAE, Dilshan expects more support from the Sri Lankan quarters and thought that the series is well poised for an interesting finish. It is an important match for both sides, and winners could go for the third one dayer with their heads high. Both sides have an opportunity to win the series if we play good cricket.

Left-arm quick bowler Chanaka Welagedara has been called up to replace injured fast bowler Suranga Lakmal in Sri Lanka`s One-Day International squad.

Lakmal will miss the remainder of the ODI series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates and the Twenty20 International due to injury.

Welagedara played all three Test matches but was omitted from the original ODI squad but became the latest addition following a spate of injuries.

Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan has called on Sri Lanka fans to sing and dance the team to victory at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday when his side faces Pakistan in the third One-Day International (ODI) of their five-match series.

Sri Lanka`s fans were loud and proud in Monday`s second game, cheering Dilshan and his players to a 25-run win at the venue, the side`s first success of the tour and one that leveled matters at 1-1.