World record 53 red cards shown in Brazilian youth game
Vadodara and Mumbai to host WPL 2027
Mendis and Udara steady ship with warm-up fifties
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The Sri Lanka Automobile Association in Japan (SLAAJ) awarded a brand-new Honda Vezel to gold medallist Rumesh Tharanga at a felicitation ceremony held for the Sri Lankan team that competed at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
The gift was presented at a ceremony, held on the eve of the track and field team’s departure from Nagoya.
Sri Lanka’s team captained by Thranga concluded the track and field campaign on Tuesday.
Tharanga’s gold was the solitary medal won by the team.
”We decided to reward every Sri Lankan athlete who wins a gold medal with a brand-new vehicle. We invited all Sri Lankan athletes taking part in the Games to the felicitation, and at the time of the event, only Tharanga had won gold,” Nishantha Meegalla, Vice President of the Nagoya Prefecture of the Sri Lanka Business Council of Japan, told The Island.
Nishantha said that Tharanga will be able to get his vehical from the Hambantota Port.
He said that sea freight charges up to Hambantota port will be taken care of on behalf of Tharanga and it would be incumbent upon the government authorities to decide to waive off any taxes for the newly crowned Asian champion to receive the gift.
Tharanga, the world’s top-ranked javelin thrower this season, won Sri Lanka’s first-ever javelin medal at the Asian Games on Monday, sealing the historic victory with a throw of 88.55 metres.
With his Asian Games triumph the 23-year-old capped a remarkable season where he claimed multiple global titles including the Diamond League title, Commonwealth Games gold and the Ultimate Championship trophy.
New constitution puts SLC under greater public scrutiny
Sri Lanka face strong India with Asian Games final at stake
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A world record of 53 red cards were shown during a chaotic under-20s game in Brazil.
The semi-final first leg of the Minas Gerais Under-20 Championship tie between Uberlandia and Mamore was marred by scenes that led to 43 players and eight members of coaching staff being sent off.
There was also two Uberlandia board members dismissed, taking the tally up to 53.
The previous record was 36, in a 2011 fifth-division game between Club Atletico Claypole and Victoriano Arenas in Argentina.
Brazilian news outlet O Tempo reported the military police were called because of extensive damage to the Parque do Sabia Stadium.
According to the referee’s report, a brawl broke out in the second half after Mamores’ Davi taunted the opposition bench during celebrations when his side went 3-1 up.
Uberlandia goalkeeping coach Paulo Sergio Dias Dos Santos ran on to the pitch to confront him, sparking clashes and the subsequent dismissals, with three players having already been sent off earlier.
The police report referenced 14 broken doors, damaged shower facilities, broken windows and that benches, tables and chairs had been destroyed.
The game was paused for approximately 40 minutes and then abandoned by referee Fernando Patrick Drosghic Modesto.
“In the 54th minute of the second half, a generalized brawl broke out, making it impossible to show the red cards and to carry out the match-closing protocol,” Modesto wrote in his report.
“Therefore, owing to all the turmoil and the lack of security, I declared the match ended.”
Uberlandia have since confirmed that they have conceded the second leg of the semi-final because Mamore only have seven players available as a result of all the red cards.
They described their move as a “gesture of fair play” as Mamore would progress through to the final, and Uberlandia will instead focus on the third-place match.
“The club has also not remained silent: the appropriate disciplinary measures regarding those involved have already been taken internally, because athletic development is, above all, a matter of personal development,” Uberlandia added.
Vadodara and Mumbai will host the upcoming season of the WPL that will be held from January 14 to February 7, 2027. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengalurru (RCB) will be taking on inaugural winnersMumbai Indians (MI) in the opening game of the season in Vadodara.
Both cities will host 11 games each. Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium will host the first 11 league games from January 14 to 24 before the action moves to the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai after a day’s gap. Brabourne will see nine league games from January 26 to February 3, before the Eliminator on February 5 and the final on February 7.
All matches will be played from 7.30pm local time.
The closing stages of WPL 2027 clashes with England’s tour of Sri Lanka for three T20Is. But senior England players, including captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, will be allowed to miss the bilateral series from February 1 to 5 if their franchises qualify for the final stages of the WPL. Sciver-Brunt (MI), Lauren Bell (RCB) and Sophie Ecclestone (UP Warriorz) were retained by their respective teams.
The inaugural six-team Women’s Champions Trophy will be held at the same two grounds, starting just a week after the WPL ends, from February 14 to 28.
Last week, Australia captain Sophie Molineux became the most expensive buy at the WPL 2027 auction, going to UPW for INR 1.1 crore (US$120,000 approx.). Middle-order batter Kiran Navgire was the most expensive Indian, sold to Delhi Capitals (DC) for INR 75 lakh.
The last season of the WPL, in early 2026, was also held in two cities – Navi Mumbai and Vadodara. However, the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai is currently undergoing renovation. Vadodara will be the host city for Gujarat Giants whereas Mumbai will be the home ground for MI.
Sri Lanka swapped coloured clothing for whites as their marathon tour of Pakistan entered its red ball phase yesterday, with Kusal Mendis and Lahiru Udara striking half-centuries in the warm-up game against PCB Patron’s XI in Islamabad.
Having spent the white ball leg shuttling between Rawalpindi and Lahore for three T20Is and an ODI triangular tournament, the tourists moved to the Pakistani capital to prepare for the two match Test series. The tour stretches beyond seven weeks and already several players are feeling homesick.
Islamabad houses Pakistan Cricket Board’s state-of-the-art cricket academy, comparable to Sri Lanka’s High Performance Centre at R. Premadasa Stadium.
Sri Lanka’s first red-ball outing began on a shaky note, with Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Dinesh Chandimal and Dhananjaya de Silva back in the pavilion with just 40 runs on the board.
Udara and captain Mendis steadied the ship, adding 90 for the fourth wicket and giving the innings some much needed backbone.
Udara, who was not in the original squad but was retained as a replacement for the injured Pathum Nissanka, made 65 to press his case for a Test berth. Whether that earns him a place in the first Test remains to be seen. Despite a big hundred in the Caribbean, quality bowling has asked searching questions of his technique at Test level.
Mendis, now entrusted with Sri Lanka’s captaincy across all three formats, kept the scoreboard ticking with a fluent 66 at almost a run a ball. His innings contained 11 boundaries.
Much was expected of Sonal Dinusha after his resolute batting against India at home, but he managed only ten. Uncapped Anjala Bandara, meanwhile, finished unbeaten on 33 as he pushed his claims for the wicketkeeper’s berth.
Bandara has piled up runs, but questions remain over his glovework. The selectors will be watching closely on how well he keeps wickets.
Sri Lanka finished on 232 for seven in 58 overs, with PCB Patron’s XI reaching 43 for two in 15 overs in reply.
Lahiru Kumara was among four seamers fielded by Sri Lanka, alongside Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga and Milan Rathnayake.
With Asitha Fernando firmly established as the first choice Test seamer, the contest is on to decide who shares the new ball with him.
Sri Lanka 232 for seven in 58 overs
(Kusal Mendis 66, Lahiru Udara 65, Anjala Bandara 33 not out).
PCB Patron’s XI 43 for two in 15 overs
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