Category: Sports

GALLE, July 18, 2010 (AFP) – Tharanga Paranavitana and skipper Kumar Sangakkara hit centuries as Sri Lanka dominated the rain-hit opening day of the first Test against India on Sunday. The left-handed duo put on 181 for the second wicket to lead Sri Lanka to 256 for two in their first innings before heavy rain […]

GALLE, July 16, 2010 (AFP) – India on Sunday embark on a third Test series in two years against Sri Lanka, with the world’s top-rated side hoping to end their 17-year drought in the island nation. The Indians have not won a Test series in Sri Lanka since a 1-0 success by Mohammad Azharuddin’s team […]

July 12, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara said Monday he was disappointed that the umpire review system would not be used for the upcoming three-Test series with India. “As a player and a team, we are very much for the umpire decision review system,” skipper Kumar Sangakkara told reporters ahead of the […]

July 11, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s captain Kumar Sangakkara has urged world cricket chiefs to win back fans to Test and one-day games with a balanced international calendar that gives equal opportunities to all teams. Sangakkara said global viewership of the sport had dwindled over the past year, despite a packed schedule of Tests, […]

July 8, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s world bowling record holder Muttiah Muralitharan on Thursday brushed aside criticism of his bowling action saying his unorthodox style was a gift from God. Muralitharan’s 18-year career was marred by controversy due to his bent-arm action — the result of an elbow deformity since birth — which helped […]

NEW DELHI, July 7, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s world bowling record holder Muttiah Muralitharan said on Wednesday he was retiring from Test cricket because he had nothing left to strive for. “I have achieved what I wanted to achieve. There is nothing left or any target to reach,” the 38-year-old told the Mumbai-based Daily […]

NEW DELHI, July 4, 2010 (AFP) – Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is worshipped by millions of sports fans across the country, was to marry his girlfriend on Sunday evening, television news channels reported. India’s next games are on tour in Sri Lanka starting July 18. Dhoni, often described as India’s most eligible […]

LONDON, July 2, 2010 (AFP) – Australia great Steve Waugh on Friday blasted the International Cricket Council’s decision to block the bid of former Australia Prime Minister John Howard to become president of the global governing body. For a start, many officials were believed to be unhappy that Howard – who has no track record […]

SYDNEY, July 1, 2010 (AFP) – Australia’s John Howard vowed to fight on to become world cricket president despite his embarrassing rejection by Africa and Asia, which was slammed as a “disgrace” by ex-ICC chief Malcolm Speed Thursday. Howard, the former conservative Australian prime minister, was due to fly home from Singapore after African and […]

WELLINGTON, June 27, 2010 (AFP) – New Zealand has left its two most senior cricketers, Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum, out of the squad named Sunday for next month’s limited over series against Sri Lanka and India in Sri Lanka. Vettori has been allowed to stay home as the tour coincides with the birth of […]

June 27, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka Cricket on Sunday barred its players from participating in overseas domestic leagues until the World Cup next year. The team is also due to tour Australia for a one-day series before West India travel to Sri Lanka in November in the build-up to the World Cup. Sri Lanka, […]

DAMBULLA, June 24, 2010 (AFP) – India’s pace battery led by Ashish Nehra demolished Sri Lanka to help their team win the Asia Cup with a comfortable 81-run win on Thursday. Dinesh Karthik top-scored with 66 as India made 268-6 after electing to bat in the day-night final, before the defending champions and hosts were […]