After a lot of speculation, drama and an attempt to convince ODI skipper Mashrafe Mortaza to reconsider his T20 retirement, Shakib Al Hasan has been named captain for the tri-series that also involves Sri Lanka and India starting on March 6 in Sri Lanka.

Shakib’s inclusion comes with a rider though - the BCB medical board has made it clear that he won’t be available for the opening two games of the tournament as he is still struggling with a sore finger.

With the uncertainty surrounding Shakib and Mashrafe’s unwillingness to come back, the team announcement got delayed. Shakib sustained an injury to his left hand during the tri-nation ODI series final in January and later had to receive stitches. The 30-year-old, who was named the Test and T20I skipper of the national team for the Sri Lanka series in February, was subsequently ruled out of the two-match Test series with Mahmudullah leading in his place.

Shakib missed the following 2-match T20 series as well, preferring to rest so that he could be available for the Nidahas Trophy. Mahmudullah led the T20I side as well.

It is reliably learnt that Shakib wasn’t too keen to play on with the injury but BCB president Nazmul Hasan seems to have convinced him. Nazmul said that there is no guarantee when he will be available but had to include him taking everything into consideration. “He might be available for one or two matches,” he said.

“There is no problem when he bowls but the finger get sore when he bats and probably he will not be available for the opening matches.”

There were five changes to the side that last played the 2-match T20 series against Sri Lanka. Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Nurul Hasan and Mehidy Hasan come in while Mohammad Saifuddin, Zakir Hasan, Atif Hossain and Mohammad Mithun who were a part of the T20I series against Sri Lanka find themselves out of favor.

Speaking on team selection, chief selector Minhajul Abedin asserted that they picked players suited for the pitches and conditions in Sri Lanka. “We have included some experienced campaigners,” he said.

“As it is expected pacers will play a part so we picked Imrul [Kayes] considering his international experience. As the matches will be played in Premadasa we needed someone who can bowl fast and Taskin [Ahmed] returned fulfilling the criterion,” he added.

Meanwhile current bowling coach Courtney Walsh will act as head coach for the tri-series. Walsh takes over from Zimbabwe-born Richard Halsall - who was appointed interim head coach after Chandika Hathurasingha took over Sri Lanka’s national team. Halsall had acted as Bangladesh’s fielding and assistant coach since mid-2014. He was appointed as head coach after the board failed to find a replacement for Hathurasingha before the ODI tri-series in January.

While the reason for Halsall’s unavailability for the tournament remains unclear, Walsh takes over on an interim basis. Khaled Mahmud - the former Bangladesh all-rounder, who performed the role of technical director returns back to his usual post of team manager.

Bangladesh Squad for Nidahas trophy:

Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Mahmudullah, Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman, Rubel Hossain, Abu Jayed, Taskin Ahmed, Imrul Kayes, Nurul Hasan, Mehidy Hasan, Ariful Haque, Nazmul Islam, Abu Haider Rony

DURBAN, Monday: South African fast bowler Morne Morkel announced on Monday that he would retire from international cricket after the four-Test series against Australia which starts at Kingsmead on Thursday.

The tall paceman has played in 83 Tests, 117 one-day internationals and 44 Twenty20 internationals.

Morkel, 33, has taken 294 Test wickets and his tally across all formats is 529.

Morkel said: “It was an extremely tough decision but I feel the time is right to start a new chapter.”

Morkel’s decision means he will not be available for the World Cup in England next year.

There were reports last year that Morkel was contemplating playing county cricket in England under the Kolpak regulation, which would make him ineligible for national selection. -AFP

Mahanama College, Colombo in command against Thurstan College, Colombo on day one in the pre quarter final match of the ‘Singer Cup’ Under 19 inter Schools Two Day Knok-out Cricket tournament played at Thurstan ground Colombo yesterday.

Mahanama bowled out for 148 runs in 58.4 overs. Thurstan were 72 runs for 9 wickets at close. Heshan Hettiarachchi (Mahanama) shown good all-round performances.

Match will be continued today (27) for day two.

* At Thurstan.

Mahanama Colombo: 148 in 58.4 overs (Heshan Hettiarachchi 40, Wathsara Perera 34, Pawan Rathnayake 28, Vinuka Rubasinghe 20, Sawan Prabash 3/17, Nipun Lakshan 3/48, Yeshan Wickramarachchi 2/04)

Thurstan Colombo: 72/9 in 22 overs (Rashmika Hiripitiya 22 n.o., Sawan Prabash 15, Heshan Hettiarachchi 3/21, Pethum Boteju 2/24, Piyumal Sandeepa 2/25). YK

Pakistan’s Womens cricket team will arrive in Sri Lanka on March 12 for a bilateral series of three ODIs and three T20Is against Sri Lanka Women.

The tour itinerary: 

Holy Cross College, Kalutara performed well against Taxila Central College, Horana on day one in their traditional fixture of the ‘Singer Cup’ Under 19 inter Schools Cricket tournament at Horana yesterday.

Dilhara Nanayakkara of Holy Cross, Kalutara took 7/34.

* At Kanadana.

Ananda Colombo: 150/6 in 41.3 overs (Lahiru Hiranya 46 n.o., Ashel Sigera 29, Kanishka Ranthilakage 27, Prithvi Jegarajasingham 3/30) vs

St. Benedict’s Kotahena

* At Horana.

Taxila Horana: 77 in 27.4 overs (Umesh Prasad 29, Vihanga Gunarathna 5/24, Ruthila Akalanka 2/03, Shasanka Nirmal 2/18) and 81/7 in 15.2 overs (Umesh Prasad 37, Malith Kaushalya 21 n.o., Dilhara Nanayakkara 7/34)

Holy Cross Kalutara: 172/5 decl. in 33 overs (Sasanka Nirmal 79 n.o., Nadeera Madhuwantha 50, Eranga Jayakody 3/27)

* At Moratuwa.

Moratu Maha Vidyalaya: 139 in 39.4 overs (Shehada Nithendra 48, Nishan Madushka 23, Pasindu Nadun 3/32, Vimukthi Kulathunga 3/38, Prabath Madushanka 2/19, Amith Dhananjaya 2/24)

Lumbini Colombo: 110/1 in 24.3 overs (Lakindu Upendra 50 n.o., Ranmal Fernando 36 n.o.)

* At Anuradhapura.

P. De S. Kularathne MV: 120 in 45.1 overs (Lakila Tehan 49, Sithum Nimnada 6/25, Maduranga Sri Chandrarathne 2/28)

Anuradhapura Central: 85 in 32.3 overs (Kaveesh Thathsara 4/32, Lakila Tehan 2/10)

* At Padukka.

Siri Piyarathana Padukka: 255 in 58 overs (Rajitha Ashan 70, Pasindu Hansaka 58, Sandaru Shanilka 33, Avishka Shehan 30, Navod Abilash 3/69, Gayuth Thisuka 2/64)

Seethawaka Central Avissawella: 90/2 in 25.3 overs (Kalana Madushanka 59 n.o., Yasiru Dinesh 2/16).

YK

In the first round matches of the President’s Cup inter-school invitation football tournament organized by Hameed Al Husseinie College Group of 80s, the host team got off to an impressive start trouncing Lumbini by 7 goals to nil at Race Course Complex grounds.

Other results of matches completed were: Zahira Colombo bt De Mazenod Kandana 4-3, Hindu bt Ananda 2-0, Zahira Gampola bt Badriya 1-0, St Peter’s bt Al Mubarak Central 3-0, Thurstan bt DS Senanayake 1-0, Wesley bt Nalanda 1-0 (pen shoot out)

An unbeaten 105 off 77 balls with twenty hits to the ropes by Lasitha Perera helped Railway SC register a four wicket win against the Department of Inland Revenue in their State Services F division encounter played at Mt Mary yesterday.

Inland Revenue invited to bat first scored 186 runs in 38.5 overs.

W A R N Sampath, Indika Perera, Amila Kumara and skipper Mahesh Ranwaka Arachchi contributed to the total. Daminda Maliyarathna captured four wickets while Shantha Kumara captured three. Lasitha Perera opening the Railway innings saw his team win the game in 27.3 overs. Amila Kumara captured two wickets.

Inland Revenue 186 in 38.5 overs (W A R N Sampath 25, Indika Perera 37, M G Amila Kumara 33, Mahesh Ranawaka Arachchi 34, K T Shantha Kumara 3/22, Daminda Maliyarathna 4/34

Railway 187/6 in 27.3 overs (Lasitha Perera 105 not out, M S M Akram 22, Amila Kumara 2/28)

NEW DELHI, Sunday : India’s Rohit Sharma will captain the country’s 15-member Twenty20 squad for the tri-nation series against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh next month, selectors announced on Sunday.

The Indian selectors announced that some team seniors including regular captain Virat Kohli had been rested for the series.

“We have kept in mind the workload and upcoming schedule while finalising the team for Nidahas Trophy 2018,” M.S.K Prasad, chairman of the all-India senior selection committee said in a statement.

“The high-performance team has suggested that adequate rest should be given to our fast bowlers to help improve athletic performance, maximise performance, maximise rest and prevent injury,” Prasad added.

The tri-nation series will be played at Sri Lanka’s R Premadasa Stadium.

India, who lost the Test series against South Africa 2-1, subsequently won both one-day internationals and T20 series this February.

India’s squad for the T20 series:

Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeepter), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammed Siraj, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper) – AFP

Kingswood Cricket Wing will arrange the Randles Old Boys Tent on the second day of the 117th Battle of the Maroons cricket encounter between Kingswood College and Dharmaraja College at the Pallekele International Stadium on March 17. For tickets contact Gamini Ratnayake 0773733768, Manjula Pihilianga 0773997337, Demintha Dahanayake 0773728847, T A Miskin 0775294282 and Lalith Adikaram 0777686478. The ticket offers lunch, live band and full day papare.

Paris: Simona Halep has reclaimed the world number one ranking from Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki, despite pulling out of last week’s Dubai Championships due to a foot injury.

Wozniacki, who was defending more points, was also absent in the United Arab Emirates. Halep is now over 400 points clear of the second-placed Dane.

Garbine Muguruza is third after reaching the semi-finals in Dubai. Dubai champion Elina Svitolina, from Ukraine, remains fourth. AFP

WTA rankings on February 26

1. Simona Halep (ROM) 7,965 pts (+1), 2. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 7,525 (-1), 3. Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP) 6,175, 4. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 5,480, 5. Karolína Plíšková (CZE) 5,080, 6. Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) 5,000, 7. Caroline Garcia (FRA) 4,625, 8. Venus Williams (USA) 4,277, 9. Petra Kvitová (CZE) 3,086 (+1), 10. Angelique Kerber (GER) 3,055 (-1), 11. Johanna Konta (GBR) 2,930 (+1), 12. Julia Görges (GER) 2,910 (-1), 13. Sloane Stephens (USA) 2,813, 14. Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) 2,725, 15. Madison Keys (USA) 2,703, 16. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 2,486 (+1), 17. Coco Vandeweghe (USA) 2,433 (+1), 18. Magdaléna Rybáriková (SVK) 2,405 (+1), 19. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 2,362 (+1), 20. Darya Kasatkina (RUS) 2,300 (+4) 

London: British boxer Scott Westgarth died after falling ill in the aftermath of winning an English light-heavyweight title eliminator bout on Saturday.

Westgarth, who was 31, was rushed to hospital following his victory over Dec Spellman but died in the early hours of Sunday morning, the British Boxing Board of Control confirmed.

“God bless Scott Westgarth. To promote a boxing show and a young man doing a job he loves losing his life, I have no words,” the show’s promoter Stefy Bull posted on Twitter.

“RIP lad, thoughts go out to your family and your team, it’s been the hardest few days I’ve had to endure. No idea what to do moving forward.”

Spellman also paid his respects.

“Absolutely heartbroken and lost for words,” he said on Twitter. “Continue to pray for Scott’s family and the people close to him rest easy my friend.” AFP

Both India and Bangladesh have named their squads for next month’s Nidahas trophy T20 tri-series to celebrate Sri Lanka’s 70th year of Independence, but some of the big names are missing especially in India’s line-up which could take the sheen off the tournament.

T20 is especially associated with India whose Indian Premier League (IPL) has produced some outstandingly talented cricketers for them across all formats.

However with the amount of international cricket India is playing today the Indian Cricket Board to prevent player burn out has rested as many as six regulars namely Virat Kohli the Indian captain, former captain MS Dhoni and exciting young players like Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah – all match winners on their day.

Rohit Sharma has been handed the task of leading India in the absence of Kohli and the team apart from Sharma comprises seven players who helped India complete a 3-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series in India last December. On that occasion too Kohli was rested and Sharma led India.

The seven players are: Lokesh Rahul, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Jaydev Unadkat, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar and Mohammad Siraj.

However India has included batsmen Shikhar Dhawan (who will be vice-captain to Sharma) and Suresh Raina – both of whom didn’t figure in the series against Sri Lanka. A player of Raina’s quality has not been able to guarantee a regular place in the Indian side having appeared in only six T20I for his country in the past two years.

Such is India’s talent that even without some of the big guns like Kohli and Dhoni they are still a strong unit to go and win the Nidahas trophy. So neither can Sri Lanka nor Bangladesh treat them lightly just because some of their key players have been rested.

India of course will find Sri Lanka a totally different side from the one they played three months ago. On that occasion Sri Lanka were drifting in stormy seas like a ship without a rudder and suffered a battering from all sides. With the arrival of Chandika Hathurusingha as head coach in December, the Lankan team seems to have settled into a match-winning unit as was displayed in their recent tour to Bangladesh where they won across all three formats defeating the hosts in the one-day tri-series final, the Test series and in the T20I series.

Hathurusingha’s presence in the dressing room and at practices has given the team renewed confidence and belief to win and bring the best out of the players which was something that was amiss in the recent past.

Shikhar Dhawan is one player who foresaw Sri Lanka’s improvement in the near future. In his assessment of the Lankan team in August last year Dhawan who had powered India to a thumping nine-wicket win in the first ODI at Dambulla said, “This is a young side and they are in transition period where all the boys will mature. In international cricket you need to have that experience. The young boys are good and with time they will get better that’s what I feel.”

Even South African-born fielding coach Nic Pothas who was trusted into the position of interim head coach following Graham Ford’s resignation said that he could bring about a turnaround of the team’s fortunes if given a free hand.

“For me, if we were left alone and you could work with this group of players, you could get some stability and consistency over six months, you’d see massive improvements. These are seriously gifted players.”

It was a statement which Pothas was to retract less than 48 hours later apparently under pressure from Sri Lanka Cricket with the words: “We are in good shape at the moment, a couple of very good training days and the boys are in very good spirits. We are very much focused on the process of policies and procedures that are in place which would stand us in good stead into the future.”

If Sri Lanka Cricket has learnt its lessons from the past they would do well to let Hathurusingha run the show the way he thinks is best for the team. He has already shown his hand that without outside interference and pressure he can deliver the goods.

Hathurusingha’s presence is not only a shot in the arm for the national cricket team but a lifeline for the present set of administrators whose survival and the chance of being re-elected to office for another two-year term depends heavily on the national team’s performances which before his arrival had sunk to its lowest level. Hathu is the savior not only for the Lankan team but for Sri Lanka Cricket in general.

LB Finance clinched the Mercantile Futsal Cup Championship title as they beat John Keels Holdings 4/1 in the Cup final played at the Futsal World, Colombo 10 recently.

The Mercantile Football Association conducted the championship and this year's edition saw 16 teams in 4 groups participated in 4 stages. LB finance competing in group D along with WNS, Commercial Leasing and Sampath Bank emerged undefeated group champions beating all three opponents (LB Finance beat WNS 2-0, LB beat Commercial Leasing 2-0, LB beat Sampath bank 3-0).

LB Finance maintained their unbeaten record through out the tournament and defeated Standard Charted Bank 4/0 in the quarters and beat Amana Bank 1-nil in a tough semi final to meet John Keels Holdings in the final. Even in the Cup final LB Finance dominated from the beginning and cruised to a comfortable victory posting a three-goal gap. Mohamed Rizmi and Hakeem Kamil scored two goals each for winners. LB Finance also won two special awards as there players Mohamed Rizni and goalkeeper Mohamed Uzman were adjudged the Best Player and Best Goalkeeper.

Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara distributed cricket gear to schools at the Sports Ministry auditorium as a part of Sports Ministry's programme to develop school cricket.

Minister Jayasekara revealed that the programme has identified more than 850 schools island-wide to be provided with all needed cricket equipment.

"we have fulfilled a long standing need of side wickets by providing them to 250 schools. Already 300 practice mats were also distributed among schools. Plans being made to provide turf covers and cricket gear to more 800 schools.

As a government we believe strengthening grass root level is a must.

If we provide with necessary support, lot of underprivileged schools too will get into the next level," he further said. 

The world’s leading synthetic motor oil, Mobil Lubricants, came forward as the Official Lubricants Partner of the 139th Royal-Thomian cricket encounter which will be played from March 8 to 10 at the SSC grounds in Colombo.

The Royal-Thomian Battle of the Blues is the second longest uninterrupted cricket series in the world.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Head of Marketing for McLarens Lubricants Limited, sole agents for Mobil Lubricants in Sri Lanka, stated “we are excited to be partnering with an event so rich in history and a sport that flows in the veins of every Sri Lankan.” He further went on to say, “The Battle of the Blues have redefined the entire concept of school big match by lifting it up to the present high standard.”

A twenty one ball 44 with six boundaries and two sixes by I S Batagoda and two wickets each by K A G Kapuge, I S Batagoda, P M Pushpakumara, Saliya Paladeniya and S N Gunawardena helped Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) register a two wicket win over Railway in their State Services 'B' Division Cricket tournament match at the Railway grounds yesterday.

Railway batting first were restricted to 122 runs in 24.2 overs. G W Sumith and A D Egodapitiya scored 39 runs each. CEB powered by a blistering knock if 44 by I S Batagoda won the game in 16.3 overs with two wickets in hand. Tharindu Perera captured four wickets while vetran W K Silva and H M S Chamara captured two wickets each .

Railway 122 in 24.2 (G W Sumith 39, A D Egodapitiya 39, I S Batagoda 2/49, K A G Kapuge 2/12, P M Pushpakumara 2/30, Saliya Paladeniya 2/21, S N Gunawardena 2/05)

CEB (I S Batagoda 44, S N Gunawardena 18 not out, K A S Tharindu Perera 4/54, W K Silva 2/51, H M S Chamara 2/18)

The Addalaichenai-14 Divisional team beat Addalaichenai-07 Divisional team 25/17 in the final and emerged champions of the Addalaichenai Inter GN Divisional Volleyball tournament conducted by the Addalaichenai Divisional Secretariat at the Al-Arham grounds recently. This tournament was organized by the Addalaichenai Divisional Secretariat Sports Officer S.M.M. Razeen under the guidance of the Addalaichenai Divisional Secretary T.J. Athisayaraj. Altogether 17 divisional teams took part.

The champion team of this competition has qualified to contest at district level competition which will be conducted by the Ampara District Secretariat and those who win in the district level will advance to Provincial level contest. 

Gateway College Kandy finished second runner-up in the under 20 basketball tournament organised by Ilma International School – Colombo at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium recently. Coached by Lasanthi Wijeratne they gave a good display of basketball. Some of the players who did well are skipper Janani Jayalath, Shenali Jayaweera, Chalani Fernando, Budmi Rajapaksa and Shabnam Shammil.

In the first round they lost to OKI International School Colombo 0-26 and received a walk over from CIS Kandy. In the quarterfinals they beat Royal Institute Colombo 22-2 and in the semi-finals lost to Ilma International School 10-11. In the Consolation game they beat Lyceum International School Wattala 14-8 to finish second runner-up. 

St. Joseph’s College Maradana will have a slight edge over traditional rivals St Peter’s College to regain the Rev.Fr Maurice LeGoc trophy when they confront each other in the 84th Battle of the Saints cricket encounter that will take place on March 2 and 3 at the P.Sara Oval.

This battle of the Saints encounter started way back in 1933 with St. Joseph’s College winning the inaugural clash. Robert Fernando led St. Joseph’s College in the first encounter.

The Joes’ last win in the series was achieved in 2008 under the leadership of Ruwantha Fernandopulle.

Of the 83 matches that have been played between the two schools so far Josephians lead the series with 12 wins.

Josephians under the leadership of batting all rounder cum Sri Lanka national under19 player Jehan Daniel has won five matches outright this season against St. Patrick’s College, Jaffna, D.S. Senanayake College, De Mazenod College Kandana, Zahira College Maradana and Ananda College to remain unbeaten.

Their batting has not been all that consistent as only one batsman former Sri Lanka youth player Revan Kelley has been in outstanding form scoring over 1100 runs and being their top scorer for the season with three hundreds. He will have a big burden of steering the batting for the Josephians along with Sri Lanka youth player Nipun Sumanasinghe and Lakshan Gamage who have each scored over 700 runs for the season.

Apart from this trio much will be expected from Johanne de Zilva, Dunith Wellalage and wicket keeper batsmen Sachintha Ravindu who have all scored over 500 runs along with skipper Jehan Daniel who has over 400 runs to his credit.

They are expected to bolster the Joes middle order batting.

To curtail the Peters batting line up the bowling will be in the hands of Ashien Daniel who together with Dunith Wellalage has taken over 135 wickets between them. They will be supported by Lakshan Gamage, Miranga Wickramage, Salinda Seneviratne and Nipun Sumanasinghe.

St.Joseph’s has produced many national cricketers who have gone on to represent the country with distinction - D.S.Jayasundara one of the fastest bowlers in schools in the 1930's, Fairlie Dalpathado, Gerry Gooneratne, Malcolm Francke (who later played Sheffield shield cricket for Quensland), Brian Obeysekara, Ashley de Silva, Chaminda Vaas, Michael Vandort, former Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews, Dimuth Karunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrema and Roshane Silva to name a few.

DHAKA : Bangladesh interim coach Courtney Walsh said Tuesday he would be pushing his side for consistency in next month's tri-nations series in Sri Lanka after a string of poor finishes.

The former Caribbean fast bowling great, usually a pace instructor for Bangladesh, is stepping up in the absence of a coach for the Twenty20 tournament.

Bangladesh lost a tri-nation tournament at home last month despite a strong start, before losing a series-deciding Test match against Sri Lanka inside three days.

Walsh, who has been working with Bangladesh's bowlers since 2016, said the side lacked consistency, not talent.

“If we can get consistent, we will be happy. It is going to be the biggest challenge and it is something that I will be stressing on a lot,” he told reporters.

Bangladesh have been without a head coach since October when Chandika Hathurusingha, a former Sri Lankan batsman, quit after three years to join his struggling home team.

Former skipper Mahmud filled the void as team director recently, when Bangladesh lost a Test and Twenty20 home series against Sri Lanka.

Walsh said he had not needed “a long discussion” to take up the offer.

“Once the opportunity came, it wasn't anything too difficult to discuss. I want to improve what we are doing here and hopefully take up a challenge,” he said.

The 55-year old former West Indies captain, who was once Test cricket's leading wicket-taker with 519 scalps, said his role would be more that of a mentor than a coach.

“It is going to be like a father figure, to give them the confidence,” he said.

The competition, which has been organised to mark Sri Lanka's 70th independence anniversary, will run from March 6-18 in Colombo.

India are the other team in the tournament.